IvIBRARY 

OF   THl' 


University  of  Californ/a. 

OIRTOK 


Received  x:^j2^  ,  ^^Q^..- 

Accession  No.7z/  d^ J^  6'     ■    Chus  No, 


SOUTHEY'S 


LIFE    OF    NELSON 


EDITED 


With  an  Introduction  and  Notes 


ALBERT   F.  BLAISDELL 


boston,  U.S.A.,  AND  LONDON 

PUBLISHED     BY     GINN     &     COMPANY 

1896 


Gi/sN  £^  Company^ 

pi/BbisHens 


DosTOyN.  New  York.  Chicago 

i^TLAWTA.  DALLA5.  ColUI^BUS.  5aN  FF^ANCI^Co/S^i 

^  ^     ,       London 


Copyright,  1896 
By   GINN  &  COMPANY 


ALL   RIGHTS   RESERVED 


y  ^  6  :l  6' 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

INTRODUCTION vii 

CHAPTER   I.     1758-1783 I 

First  Years  at  Sea. 

Nelson's  Birth  and  Boyhood  —  He  is  entered  on  Board  the  Raisonnable  — 
Goes  to  the  West  Indies  in  a  Merchant-ship  —  His  Dislike  to  the  Royal  Navy 

—  Serves  in  the  Triumph  —  Sails  in  Captain  Phipps'  Voyage  of  Discovery  to 
the  North  Pole  —  Adventures  in  the  Polar  Regions  —  Proceeds  to  the  East 
Indies  in  the  Seahorse  —  Returns  in  111  Health  —  Consequent  Despondency 

—  Reaction  of  Feeling  —  Serves  as  Ac^ingr Lieutenant  in  the  Worcester^  and  is 
made  Lieutenant  into  the  Lowestoffe^  Commander  into  the  Badger  Brig,  and 
Post  into  the  Hinchinbrook  —  Expedition  against  the  Spanish  Main  —  Its 
Failure  —  Injury  to  Nelson's  Health  —  He  is  appointed  to  the  J  anus  ^  but 
obliged  to  resign  the  Command  —  Returns  to  England  —  He  is  sent  to  the 
Baltic  Sea  in  the  Albemarle  —  His  Services  during  the  American  War. 


CHAPTER   IL     1784-1792 25 

In  the  West  Indies. 

Nelson  is  reappointed  to  the  Boreas  —  Goes  to  the  West  Indies  —  His 
Kindness  to  his  Midshipmen  —  Enforces  the  Navigation  Act  —  Meets  with 
Opposition  from  the  West  Indians  —  Seizes  four  American  Vessels  —  Is 
prosecuted  by  the  Captains  —  Marries  the  Widow  of  Dr.  Nisbet  —  Exposes 
the  Conduct  of  the  Navy  Contractors  —  Returns  to  England  —  His  Reception 
—  Is  on  the  Point  of  quitting  the  Service  in  Disgust  —  His  Manner  of  Life 
while  at  Home  —  Is  threatened  with  a  New  Prosecution  —  Applies  for  Active 
Employment  —  Appointed  to  the  Agamemnon  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  W^r 
of  the  French  Revolution. 


IV  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER    III.     1793-1795 .39 

First  Service  in  the  Mediterranean. 

The  Agamemnon  sent  to  the  Mediterranean  —  Joins  Commodore  Linzee  at 
Tunis  —  Is  ordered  to  Corsica,  to  cooperate  with  PaoU  —  Siege  of  St.  Fiorenzo 

—  Nelson  besieges  and  reduces  Bastia  —  Takes  a  Prominent  Part  in  the  Siege 
of  Calvi  —  Loses  an  Eye  —  The  Agamemnon  engages  the  ^a  Ira  and  Censeur 

—  Nelson  proceeds  to  Genoa  to  cooperate  with  the  Austrian  and  Sardinian 
Forces  —  General  de  Vins  —  His  Character  and  Conduct  —  Nelson's  Difficul- 
ties —  Defeat  of  the  Austrians. 


CHAPTER   IV.     1795-1797 66 

Battle  off  Cape  St.  Vincent. 

Sir  John  Jervis  takes  the  Command  —  His  Confidence  in  Nelson —  Napoleon 
begins  his  Career  —  His  first  Successes  in  Italy  —  Genoa  openly  joins  the  French 
—  Evacuation  of  Corsica  —  Nelson  superintends  the  Embarkation  at  Bastia  — 
Hoists  his  Broad  Pendant  in  the  Minerve  Frigate  —  Engages  two  Spanish 
Frigates  —  Leaves  the  Mediterranean  —  Proceeds  to  join  the  Admiral  —  Falls 
in  with  the  Spanish  Fleet  —  Battle  off  Cape  St.  Vincent  —  Captures  the  San 
Nicolas  and  San  Joseph  —  Receives  the  Order  of  the  Bath  —  Commands  the 
Inner  Squadron  at  the  Blockade  of  Cadiz  —  Conflict  with  a  Spanish  Launch  — 
Expedition  against  Santa  Cruz  —  Is  shot  through  the  Arm  —  Failure  of  the 
Attack  —  Nelson  returns  to  England  —  Sufferings  from  his  Wound  — Recovery. 


CHAPTER   V.     1798 89 

The  Battle  of  the  Nile. 

Nelson  hoists  his  Flag  in  the  Vanguard,  and  joins  Earl  St.  Vincent  —  Is 
dispatched  to  the  Mediterranean  —  Sails  in  Search  of  the  French  Fleet  — 
Returns  to  Sicily,  and  victuals  at  Syracuse  —  Sails  again  for  Egypt  —  Finds 
the  French  Fleet  in  Aboukir  Bay  —  His  Plan  of  Attack  —  Battle  of  the  Nile 
—  Is  wounded  in  the  Head  —  Blowing  up  of  the  Orient  —  The  Result  of  the 
Battle  a  Conquest,  not  a  Victory  —  His  Expression  of  Regret  at  the  Want  of 
Frigates  —  Honors  conferred  upon  him. 


CONTENTS.  V 

PAGE 

CHAPTER   VI.     1798-1800 114 

Fighting  the  French  in  Italy. 

Returns  to  Naples  —  His  Reception  there  —  State  of  that  Court  and  King- 
dom —  General  Mack  —  Defeat  of  the  Neapolitan  Army  —  The  French 
approach  Naples  —  Flight  of  the  Royal  Family  —  Renewed  Operations  against 
the  French  —  Fort  St.  Elmo  —  Nelson  arrives,  and  annuls  the  Capitulation  — 
Disobeys  the  Order  to  repair  to  Minorca  —  His  Reasons  —  Is  made  Duke  of 
Bronte  —  Expels  the  French  from  Rome  —  Siege  of  Malta  —  Sufferings  of  the 
Troops  and  People  —  Conduct  of  the  SiciUan  Court  —  Decided  Measures  of 
Captain  Ball  —  Capitulation  of  Malta  —  Nelson  leaves  the  Mediterranean,  and 
returns  to  England  —  Incidents  of  his  Journey  —  Popular  Admiration  of  him 
—  The  Old  German  Pastor. 


CHAPTER    VII.      1800-1801 139 

Battle  of  the  Baltic.  )jt 

Enthusiastic  Reception  of  Nelson  in  England  —  Is  sent  to  the  Baltic  under 
Sir  Hyde  Parker  —  The  Expedition  against  Copenhagen  —  Plans  of  Attack  — 
Difificulties  in  passing  the  Sound  —  The  Fleet  off  Cronenburg  Castle  —  Battle 
of  Copenhagen  —  Sir  Hyde  makes  the  Signal  to  cease  Action,  which  is  disobeyed 
by  Nelson  —  Success  of  the  British  —  Nelson's  Letter  to  the  Crown  Prince  — 
Cessation  of  Hostilities  —  Negotiations  for  an  Armistice  —  Nelson's  Interviews 
with  the  Crown  Prince  —  Is  made  a  Viscount. 


CHAPTER    VIII.     1801-1805 .168 

Nelson  again  in  the  Mediterranean. 

Recall  of  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  and  Appointment  of  Nelson  to  the  Command  — 
Goes  to  Revel  —  Peace  with  Russia,  and  Settlement  of  Affairs  in  the  Baltic  — 
Returns  to  England  —  Commands  the  Channel  Fleet  —  Unsuccessful  Attack 
upon  the  French  Flotilla  at  Boulogne  —  Peace  of  Amiens  —  Renewal  of  the 
War  —  Nelson  again  j;akes  the  Command  in  the  Mediterranean  —  Hostilities 
with  Spain  —  Blockade  of  Toulon  —  Escape  of  Villeneuve's  Fleet ^rr-^elson 
goes  to  Egypt  in  Search  of  it  —  Then  chases  it  to  the  West  Indies  and  back  — 
Delivers  up  his  Squadron  to  Admiral  CornwalUs  —  Returh^to-Eiigland. 


VI  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

CHAPTER   IX.     1805 201 

Battle  of  Trafalgar. 

Sir  Robert  Calder's  Action  —  Villeneuve's  Fleet  gets  into  Cadiz  —  General 
Approval  of  Nelson's  Conduct  —  His  Life  at  Merton  —  His  Anxiety  regarding 
the  Combined  Fleets  —  Offers  his  Services,  and  is  reappointed  to  the  Command 
in  the  Mediterranean  —  His  Departure  from  Portsmouth  —  Popular  Demon- 
strations of  Attachment  to  him  —  Arrives  off  Cadiz  —  Reception  of  him  by  the 
Fleet  —  Villeneuve  puts  to  Sea  —  Nelson's  Plan  of  Attack  —  Judicious  Dispo- 
sitions of  Villeneuve  —  Nelson's  Celebrated  Signal  —  Battle  of  Trafalgar  — 
Breaking  the  Enemy's  Line  —  Nelson  receives  his  Death  Wound  —  His  Last 
Moments  —  Capture  of  the  Redoubtable^  from  which  the  Fatal  Shot  was  fired 
—  Results  of  the  Battle  —  Honors  conferred  on  Nelson's  Memory  —  Conclusion. 

ADDITIONAL   NOTES 229 

MEMOIR   OF   NELSON'S    SERVICES  .     .     , 233 


INTRODUCTION. 

^>#<oo 

Southey's  "  Life  of  Nelson,"  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
readable  biographies  ever  written,  is  an  enlargement  of  an 
article  which  appeared  in  the  Quarterly  Review  of  London 
eighty-five  years  ago.^  This  brief  sketch  was  afterwards 
enlarged  at  the  request  of  the  eminent  pubUsher,  Mr.  Murray, 
and  was  first  published  by  him  in  the  Family  Library  some 
three  years  after,  in  1813. 

Mr.  South^y,  in  speaking  of  its  publication,  says  : 

''  The  '  Life  of  Nelson '  was  completed  this  morning  (Feb.  i, 
18 13).  This  is  a  subject  which  I  should  never  have  dreamt 
of  touching,  if  it  had  not  been  thrust  upon  me.  I  have  walked 
among  sea-terms  as  carefully  as  a  cat  does  among  crockery ; 
but  if  I  have  succeeded  in  making  the  narrative  continuous 
and  clear,  —  the  very  reverse  of  what  it  is  in  the  lives  before 
me,  —  the  materials  are  in  themselves  so  full  of  character,  so 
picturesque,  and  so  sublime,  that  it  cannot  fail  of  being  a  good 
book." 

The  following  extract  from  the  original  preface  briefly  explains 
the  motive  which  stimulated  the  author  to  write  the  life  of 
Lord  Nelson : 

1  "  This,  which  was  perhaps,  upon  the  whole,  the  most  popular  of  any  of 
my  father's  works,  originated  in  an  article  in  the  fifth  number  of  the 
Quarterly  Review  (February,  18 10),  which  was  enlarged  at  Murray's  request. 
My  father  received  altogether  ;£"300  for  it,  —  ;^ioo  for  the  Review  ;  ;£"ioo 
when  the  'Life'  was  enlarged;  and  £100  when  it  was  published  in  the 
Family  Library ^  —  Southey^s  Life  and  Correspondence^  chap,  xviii. 


Vlll  INTRODUCTION. 

**  Many  lives  of  Nelson  have  been  written ;  one  is  yet  wanting 
clear  and  concise  enough  to  become  a  manual  for  the  young 
sailor,  which  he  may  carry  about  with  him  till  he  has  treasured 
up  the  example  in  his  memory  and  in  his  heart.  In  attempting 
such  a  work  I  shall  write  the  eulogy  of  our  great  naval  hero ; 
for  the  best  eulogy  of  Nelson  is  the  faithful  history  of  his 
actions ;  the  best  history  that  which  shall  relate  them  most 
perspicuously." 

Mr.  Southey's  little  book  rose  at  once  into  universal  favor, 
and  has  ever  since  been  regarded  as  one  of  our  popular  and 
standard  biographies.  What  is  the  secret  of  its  popularity.^ 
Why  has  this  little  book  been  read  and  reread  for  more  than 
eighty  years  ?  Why  has  it  been  an  old-time  favorite  all  these 
years  with  young  people  ?  The  explanation  is  not  difficult. 
In  the  first  place,  Southey  was  a  writer  of  exceptional  ability, 
and  an  unwearied  and  skillful  editor.  He  was  master  of  a 
style  which  has  always  commanded  admiration  for  its  clear- 
ness and  simplicity.  His  literary,  and  also  personal,  fortunes 
were  intimately  associated  with  those  of  Coleridge  and  Words- 
worth. He  was  not  equal  to  either  of  them  in  genius,  but 
he  had  abilities  of  a  high  order.  For  many  years  he  made 
himself  a  magnate  in  the  world  of  letters,  doing  his  duty, 
says  Thackeray,  "for  fifty  noble  years  of  labor;  day  by  day 
storing  up  learning ;  day  by  day  working  for  scant  wages  ; 
charitable  out  of  his  small  means ;  bravely  faithful  to  the 
calling  he  had  chosen,  refusing  to  turn  from  his  path  for 
popular  praise  or  prince's  power.  I  hope  his  life  will  not  be 
forgotten  for  it  is  sublime  in  its  simplicity,  its  energy,  its  honor, 
its  affection." 

Mr.  Southey  wrote  many  long  and  now  forgotten  poems, 
and  scores  of  volumes,  and  articles  for  the  quarterlies  and  other 
periodicals,  which  required  great  accuracy  and  vast  research. 
Except  the  "Life  of  Wesley"  and  the  "Life  of  Nelson," 
and  a  few  short  poems,  the  vast  literary  productions  of  this 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

unwearied  author  are  rarely  read.  "  Southey's  *  Life  of  Nel- 
son,'"  says  Macaulay,  "  is^Jbeyond-ali  doul>t,  the  most  perfect 
and  delightful  of  his  works.  No  writer,  perhaps,  ever  lived 
whose  talents  so  precisely  qualified  him  to  write  the  history 
of  the  great  naval  warrior.  There  were  no  fine  riddles  of 
the  human  heart  to  read ;  no  theories  to  propound ;  no  hidden 
causes  to  develop  ;  no  consequences  to  predict.  The  char- 
acter of  the  hero  lay  on  the  surface ;  the  exploits  were  brilliant 
and  picturesque.  It  would  not  be  easy  to  find  in  all  literary  his- 
tory an  incident  of  a  more  exact  hit  between  wind  and  water."  ^ 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  Southey  wrote  his  first  sketch 
for  the  Quarterly  Review  only  four  years  after  the  death  of 
Nelson.  The  full  biography,  as  it  now  stands,  was  written 
less  than  eight  years  after  Trafalgar,  and  only  two  years  before 
the  downfall  of  Napoleon  at  Waterloo. 

England's  favorite  admiral  had  almost  annihilated  the  naval 
power  of  her  great  enemy,  but  on  land  Napoleon  still  threat- 
ened the  liberty  of  Europe.  Fresh  in  the  memory  of  every 
Englishman  were  the  daring  exploits  and  matchless  victories  of 
the  frail  little  man  who,  before  he  was  forty  years  of  age,  had 
"actually  been  engaged  against  the  enemy  upwards  of  120 
times,  in  which  service  he  had  lost  his  right  eye  and  his  right 
arm,  and  had  been  severely  wounded  and  bruised  in  his  body." 

Written  during  such  momentous  and  stirring  times  in  the 
history  of  his  country,  it  is  not  strange  that  Southey  was  able, 
by  his  masterly  pen,  to  give  his  narrative  a  dramatic  vividness 
and  depth  of  interest  found  in  few  works  of  fiction. 

While  Southey  was  master  of  a  clear,  vigorous  English,  he 
was  none  the  less  at  times,  in  his  controversial  writings,  prone 
to  be  influenced  by  strong  prejudice  and  violent  political 
partiality,  and  a  somewhat  haughty  tone  of  arrogant  self- 
confidence.  Blemishes  of  this  kind  naturally  would  be  expected, 
and  do  occur,  in  his  "  Life  of  Nelson."     For  instance,  he  hated 

1  Macaulay's  Miscellaneous  Works y  Harper's  edition,  vol.  i.  p.  394. 


X  INTRODUCTION. 

the  French,  and  hence  some  of  his  statements  are  based  more 
on  a  bitter  prejudice  against  the  national  enemy  than  a  calm 
estimate  of  facts. 

The  search-light  of  history  long  ago  revealed  the  fact  that 'in 
the  long  and  bitter  European  wars  that  followed  the  French 
Revolution,  it  was  not  the  French  alone  who  were  ''  distinguished 
for  boastfulness,  perfidy,  and  unscrupulous  audacity." 

Again,  Southey  lived  too  near  Nelson's  time  to  form  a  calm 
and  philosophical  estimate  of  the  character  of  his  hero.  He 
overlooks  the  weak  points  in  Nelson's  character,  and  condemns 
where  it  is  not  deserved.  On  the  whole,  however,  it  is  gener- 
ally conceded  that  Southey's  pen-picture  of  the  great  admiral  is 
lifelike,  vigorous,  and  for  the  most  part  accurate.  He  depended, 
for  the  most  of  his  facts,  upon  Clarke  and  M'Arthur's  "Life 
of  Nelson."  With  his  usual  literary  skill  he  rearranged 
the  material  of  these  two  bulky  volumes,  but  did  not  take 
the  pains  to  eliminate  errors  or  to  furnish  much  additional 
information. 

Judged  from  a  strictly  historical  point  of  view,  Southey's 
little  masterpiece  has  no  great  value.  It  is  well  to  remember^ 
however,  that  it  was  never  intended  by  its  author  for  an  elabo- 
rate biography,  but  was  written  to  furnish  young  sailors  with 
a  simple  narrative  of  the  exploits  of  England's  favorite  naval 
warrior.  As  such,  perhaps,  it  has  never  been  equaled  for  the 
charm  and  the  perfection  of  its  style.  The  s'tudent  is  referred 
to  such  passages  as  the  description  of  the  blowing  up  of  the 
Orient^  of  the  advance  of  the  English  fleet  into  Aboukir  Bay, 
and  the  noble  peroration  of  the  book,  as  signal  illustrations  of 
what  a  skillful  writer  can  do  in  writing  clear,  graphic,  and 
beautiful  English. 

Southey  was  fortunate  in  the  subject  of  his  little  biography. 
He  was  to  write  the  life  of  a  man  whose  remarkable  exploits 
in  the  naval  service  of  his  country  were  unparalleled  in  their 
brilliancy  and  success.     Information  connected  with  the  per- 


INTRODUCTION.  xi 

sonal  and  professional  career  of  this  idol  of  the  English  navy 
has  always  been  a  subject  of  lively  interest  and  proud  exultation. 

Nelson  was  a  man  of  remarkable  genius.  He  possessed 
exactly  those  strong  and  those  weak  points  of  character  which 
made  him  a  popular  hero  while  living,  and  have  endeared  his 
memory  to  mankind  for  nearly  a  century. 

Because  his  people  were  poor  and  the  boy  was  sickly,  his 
uncle,  a  captain  in  the  navy,  took  compassion  on  the  twelve- 
year-old  stripling  and  took  him  to  sea,  ''  in  the  hope  that  a  can- 
non-ball would  knock  off  his  head."  A  rifle  bullet  did  put  an 
untimely  end  to  his  life  thirty-five  years  afterwards,  but  not 
until  he  had  J^ecome  England's  greatest  admiral,  and  had 
performed  deeds  in  the  service  of  his  country  with  which  all 
the  world  is  familiar.  With  a  fragile  body,  harassed  by  almost 
continual  ill-health,  or  suffering  most  of  his  life  from  wounds, 
he  showed  what  it  is  possible  for  a  man  of  a  fearless,  intrepid, 
and  ambitious  spirit  to  accomplish.  He  early  obtained  by  the 
most  untiring  energy  and  perseverance  a  mastery  over  the  most 
minute  details  of  his  chosen  profession.  He  always  had  the 
gift  to  inspire  all  under  his  command  with  an  enthusiasm  and 
determination  to  carry  out  his  wishes.  And  as  he  was  abso- 
lutely devoid  of  fear  and  a  born  fighter  in  those  times  when 
long  and  fierce  combats  both  on  land  and  on  sea  were  the  rule, 
and  times  of  peace  were  rare,  it  may  be  well  inferred  that  his 
men  had  their  fill  of  hardship  and  glory.  Nelson  was  an  extra- 
ordinary man  inspired  to  do  great  deeds  from  an  unbounded 
ambition  and  an  exalted  idea  of  duty. 

The  personal  life  of  a  man  who  has  played  a  commanding 
part  in  the  history  of  his  country  is  always  of  paramount  interest 
to  his  fellow-men.  We  are  never  tired  of  noting  and  hearing  of 
comparatively  trivial  deeds  and  sayings  of  such  men.  Hence, 
we  like  to  read  in  Southey's  "  Life  "  that  after  the  *' great-little 
man,"  as  Nelson  was  sometimes  called,  had  become  respected 
and  feared  in  the  West  Indies  by  his  enemies,  that  a  certain  official 


Xll  INTRODUCTION. 

of  high  rank,  in  seeking  a  personal  interview,  at  last  found  the 
dreaded  captain  undep  a  dining-table  in  a  frolic  with  a  pretty 
three-year-old  boy,  and  that  this  same  boy  afterwards  became  a 
naval  officer,  and  saved  his  benefactor's  life  the  night  Nelson 
had  his  right  arm  shot  off.  ^ 

\.  Again,  we  like  to  learn,  that  the  great  admiral  was  ch^r- 
ful  and  plea^nt,  and  rarely  appeared  to  have  any  weight  on 
his  mind ;  that  he  did  not  use  salt,  as  he  believed  it  to  be  the 
*'  sole  cause  of  scurvy  ";  that  he  liked  to  eat  his  breakfast  with 
several  of  his  midshipmen.  "  He  entered  into  their  boyish 
jokes,  and  could  be  merry  with  the  youngest."  Not  alone  as  a 
great  naval  warrior,  able  by  his  genius  and  fearlessness  to  carry 
out  with  wisdom  and  clear  insight  plans  which  led  to  victory, 
was  Nelson  preeminent,  but  equally  wise  and  considerate  was 
he  in  attending  to  those  details  of  the  daily  life  of  his  men 
which  ensured  their  health  and  comfort.  It  does  not  disturb  a 
people's  admiration  of  their  hero  that  Nelson  "  not  infrequently 
displayed  the  unblushing  and  self-asserting  vanity  of  a  child, 
and  with  all  a  child's  love  of  praise  and  a  woman's  love  of 
flattery."  He  continues  to  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  great 
heroic  figures  of  the  world,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  his  weak- 
nesses were  as  remarkable  as  were  his  natural  gifts  and  his 
sterling  qualities. 

If  we  would  have  faithful  likenesses  of  those  about  us  we 
must  have  them  painted,  as  Cromwell  wanted  to  be  painted, 
**  warts  and  all."  In  biography,  as  in  portraiture,  we  must 
have  light  and  shade.  A  common  artist,  whether  he  works 
with  brush  or  pen,  sees  merely  the  outward  form,  and  copies  it. 
A  man  of  genius  looks  deeper,  and  portrays  the  soul  of  the  man 
as  revealed  by  his  features  or  actions.  In  the  one  we  have 
a  piece  of  neat  waxwork  ;  in  the  other,  the  living  man.  Hence, 
our  library  shelves  are  crowded  with  the  lives  of  the  world's 
great  and  little  men,  but  biographies  truly  great  may  be  counted 
on  the  fingers. 


INTRODUCTION.  XIll 

Southey's  "  Nelson ''  is  an  entertaining  and  stimulating  biog- 
raphy for  young  people  to  read.  It  cannot,  of  course,  be 
compared  with  the  more  stately  biographies,  written  for  more 
mature  minds,  like  Boswell's  "Life  of  Dr.  Johnson,"  or  Lock- 
hart's  "  Life  of  Sir  Walter  Scott." 

It  belongs  rather  to  the  class  of  biographies  represented  by 
Wirt's  "  Life  of  Patrick  Henry."  Such  biographies  serve  a 
most  useful  purpose  in  shaping  the  lives  of  young  men. 

It  is  a  most  wholesome  thing  for  young  students  to  learn 
that  throughout  Nelson's  career  a  iijgh  sense  of  duty  was 
qJLgays  uppermost  in  higjiiind  and  directed  all  the  public  acts 
of  his  life.  This  dominant  idea  culminated  and  was  exempli- 
fied in  the  famous  signal  to  the  fleet  before  going  into  action 
at  Trafalgar,  —  ** England  expects  every  man  will  do  his  duty"; 
as  well  as  in  the  last  words  of  the  dying  hero,  —  **  I  have  done 
my  duty  and  I  praise  God  for  it."  The  old  Saxon  idea  of  a 
resolute  devotion  to  duty,  whether  in  the  great  or  little  acts  of 
life,  never  had  a  more  striking  exemplar  than  in  the  story  of 
Nelson's  life.  To  this  abiding  sense  of  duty,  which  was  the 
very  crown  of  Nelson's  character,  were  added  other  sterling 
traits  admirably  set  forth  by  Mr.  Southey,  —  such  as  inflexi- 
bility of  purpose,  courage  of  convictions  and  fearle§,§ness  of 
personal  danger,  which  enabled  him  to  dare  and  to  do  great 
things  in  the  face  of  apparently  insurmountable  obstacles. 

Some  one  has  said  that  the  great  lesson  of  biography  is  to 
teach  what  man  can  be  and  can  do  at  his  best.  This  lesson 
has  been  most  emphatically  impressed  upon  the  minds  of 
hundreds  of  young  readers  by  the  simple  and  charming  style 
of  Southey's  brief  biography  of  Lord  Nelson. 

The  chief  authorities  for  Nelson's  professional  life  are 
Nicolas's  "Dispatches  and  Letters,"  above  3500  in  all  (7 
vols.,  1846),  and  James's  "  Naval  History  "  from  1793  (6  vols.), 
the  standard  authority  for  all  the  naval  actions  of  that  time. 
For   his   private   life   the   best   authority   is   the  "  Hamilton- 


XIV  INTRODUCTION. 

Nelson  Papers"  (2  vols.,  1894),  privately  printed  from  Mr. 
Alfred  Morrison's  collection  of  original  manuscripts.  Mr.  J. 
C.  Jeaifreson  had  access  to  these  manuscripts  in  his  "  Lady 
Hamilton  and  Lord  Nelson"  (2  vols.,  1888),  and  "The  Queen 
of  Naples  and  Lord  Nelson"  (2  vols.,  1889).  Clarke  and 
M' Arthur's  "  Life  of  Nelson  "  (2  vols.,  1808)  was  long  the  basis 
of  later  lives  of  the  great  admiral,  but  it  is  to  be  read  with 
great  caution  in  the  light  of  quite  recent  researches.  Harri- 
son's "Life"  (2  vols.,  1806)  was  written  to  the  order  of  Lady 
Hamilton,  in  order  to  sustain  her  claims  for  help  from  the 
British  government.  "  It  is  not  too  much  to  say,"  says 
Mr.  Laughton  in  his  recent  "  Life,"  "  that  Harrison's  book  is  'a 
pack  of  lies,'  and  that  no  one  statement  in  it  can  be  accepted 
unless  it  is  independently  confirmed  from  other  sources." 
Dr.  Pettigrew's  "  Memoirs  of  the  Life  "  (2  vols.,  1849)  i^  consid- 
ered a  strong  and  well-written  book  on  Nelson's  career.  There 
are  several  other  biographies  of  Nelson  which  are  not  worthy 
of  mention  even  by  name. 

For  a  most  readable  biography  of  Nelson  the  young  student 
is  advised  to  read  "  Horatio  Nelson  and  the  Naval  Supremacy 
of  England,"  by  W.  Clark  Russell,  the  well-known  writer  of 
sea  stories,  and  published  in  1890  in  the  "  Heroes  of  Nations 
Series "  ;  and  "  Nelson,"  a  brief  but  charming  biography  by 
J.  K.  Laughton,  published  in  1895  ^^  ^^^  "  English  Men  of 
Action  Series." 

In  this  edition  of  Southey's  "  Nelson,"  which  is  more  especially 

intended  for  school  and  home  use,  certain  sections  here  and 

there  have  been  omitted.     These  consist  of  passages  giving 

full  details  of  events  which  have  lost  their  interest  for  the 

readers  of  to-day,  or  of  those  which  do  not  concern  Nelson's 

public  life.     No  alterations  have  been  made  in   the  wording, 

and  the  succeeding  text  stands  as  originally  written  with  the 

exceptions  just  mentioned. 

A.  F.  Blaisdell. 


SOUTHEY'S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 


o>#<o 


CHAPTER    I. 

FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA. 

HORATIO,  son  of  Edmund  and  Catherine  Nelson,  was 
born  September  29,  1758,  in  the  parsonage  house  of 
Burnham  Thorpe,  a  village  in  the  county  of  Norfolk,  of  which 
his  father  was  rector.  The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was 
Suckling :  her  grandmother  was  an  elder  sister  of  Sir  Robert 
Walpole,^  and  this  child  was  named  after  his  godfather,  the 
first  Lord  Walpole.^  Mrs.  Nelson  died  in  1767,  leaving  eight 
out  of  eleven  children.  Her  brother,  Captain  Maurice  Suck- 
ling, of  the  navy,  visited  the  widower  upon  this  event,  and 
promised  to  take  care  of  one  of  the  boys.  Three  years  after- 
wards, when  Horatio  was  only  twelve  years  of  age,  being  at 
home  during  the  Christmas  holidays,  he  read  in  the  county 
newspaper  that  his  uncle. was  appointed  to  the  Raisomiable,  of 
sixty-four  guns.  "  Do,  William,"  said  he  to  a  brother  who  was 
a  year  and  a  half  older  than  himself,  "write  to  my  father,  and 
tell  him  that  I  should  like  to  go  to  sea  with  uncle  Maurice." 
Mr.  Nelson   was   then  at  Bath,  whither  he  had  gone  for  the 

^  Sir  Robert  Walpole  (1676-1745).  — The  celebrated  Whig  statesman 
who  flourished  in  the  reigns  of  George  I.  and  George  II.  He  was  the 
subject  of  one  of  Macaulay's  essays. 

2  The  First  Lord  Walpole.  —  Died  in  1757.  Probably  Southey  refers 
to  Horatio,  the  second  Lord  Walpole. 


2  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

recovery  of  his  health ;  his  circumstances  were  straitened,  and 
he  had  no  prospect  of  ever  seeing  them  bettered  ;  he  knew  that 
it  was  the  wish  of  providing  for  himself  by  which  Horatio  was 
chiefly  actuated ;  and  did  not  oppose  his  resolution  ;  he  under- 
stood also  the  boy's  character,  and  had  always  said,  that  in 
whatever  station  he  might  be  placed,  he  would  climb,  if 
possible,  to  the  very  top  of  the  tree.  Accordingly,  Captain 
Suckling  was  written  to.  "  What,"  said  he  in  his  answer, 
"  has  poor  Horatio  done,  who  is  so  weak,  that  he  above  all  the 
rest  should  be  sent  to  rough  it  out  at  sea  ?  But  let  him  come, 
and  the  first  time  we  go  into  action,  a  cannon-ball  may  knock 
off  his  head,  and  provide  for  him  at  once." 

It  is  manifest  from  these  words  that  Horatio  was  not  the 
boy  whom  his  uncle  would  have  chosen  to  bring  up  in  his  own 
profession.  He  was  never  of  a  strong  body,  and  the  ague, 
which  at  that  time  was  one  of  the  most  common  diseases  in 
England,  had  greatly  reduced  his  strength ;  yet  he  had  already 
given  proofs  of  that  resolute  heart  and  nobleness  of  mind, 
which,  during  his  whole  career  of  labor  and  of  glory,  so 
eminently  distinguished  him.  When  a  mere  child  he  strayed 
a-bird's-nesting|from  his  grandmother's  house  in  company  with 
a  cow-boy  :  the  dinner  hour  elapsed  ;  he  was  absent,  and  could 
not  be  found ;  and  the  alarm  of  the  family  became  very  great, 
for  they  apprehended  that  he  might  have  been  carried  off  by 
gypsies.  At  length,  after  search  had  been  made  for  him  in 
various  directions,  he  was  discovered,  alone,  sitting  composedly 
by  the  side  of  a  brook  which  he  could  not  get  over.  "  I  won- 
der, child"'  said  the  old  lady  when  she  saw  him,  "that  hunger 
and  fear  did  not  drive  you  home."  "  Fear  !  grandmamma," 
replied  the  future  hero,  "  I  never  saw  fear  :  what  is  it  ? "  ^ 
Once,  after  the  winter  holidays,  when  he  and  his  brother 
William  had  set  off  on  horseback  to  return  to  school,  they  came 

1  According  to  Clarke  and  M'Arthur's  Life^  Nelson's  reply  was,  "  Fear 
never  came  near  me,  grandmamma." 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  3 

back  because  there  had  been  a  fall  of  snow ;  and  William, 
who  did  not  much  like  the  journey,  said  it  was  too  deep  for 
them  to  venture  on.  "If  that  be  the  case,^'  said  the  father, 
**  you  certainly  shall  not  go  ;  but  make  another  attempt,  and  I 
will  leave  it  to  your  honor.  If  the  road  is  dangerous,  you  may 
return ;  but  remember,  boys,  I  leave  it  to  your  honor."  The 
snow  was  deep  enough  to  have  afforded  them  a  reasonable 
excuse  ;  but  Horatio  was  not  to  be  prevailed  upon  to  turn  back. 
"  We  must  go  on,"  said  he  :  *'  remember,  brother,  it  was  left  to 
our  honor !  "  There  were  some  fine  pears  growing  in  the 
schoolmaster's  garden,  which  the  boys  regarded  as  lawful 
booty,  and  in  the  highest  degree  tempting  ;  but  the  boldest 
among  them  were  afraid  to  venture  for  the  prize.  Horatio 
volunteered  upon  this  service :  he  was  lowered  down  at  night 
from  the  bedroom  window  by  some  sheets,  .plundered  the  tree, 
was  drawn  up  with  the  pears,  and  then  distributed  them 
among  his  schoolfellows  without  reserving  any  for  himself. 
He  only  took  them,  he  said,  "  because  every  other  boy  was 
afraid." 

Early  on  a  cold  and  dark  spring  morning  Mr.  Nelson's 
servant  arrived  at  this  school,  at  North  Walsham,  with  the 
expected  summons  for  Horatio  to  join  his  ship.  The  parting 
from  his  brother  William,  who  had  been  for  so  many  years  his 
playmate  and  bedfellow,  was  a  painful  effort,  and  was  the 
beginning  of  those  privations  which  are  the  sailor's  lot  through 
life.  He  accompanied  his  father  to  London.  The  Raisofinable 
was  lying  in  the  Medway.  He  was  put  into  the  Chatham 
stage,  and  on  its  arrival  was  set  down  with  the  rest  of  the 
passengers,  and  left  to  find  his  way  on  board  as  he  could. 
After  wandering  about  in  the  cold  without  being  able  to  reach 
the  ship,  an  officer  observed  the  forlorn  appearance  of  the 
boy,  questioned  him,  and  happening  to  be  acquainted  with  his 
uncle,  took  him  home  and  gave  him  some  refreshments.  When 
he  got  on  board.  Captain   Suckling  was  not  in  the  ship,  nor 


4  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

had  any  person  been  apprised  of  the  boy's  coming.  He  paced 
the  deck  the  whole  remainder  of  the  day  without  being  noticed 
by  any  one ;  and  it  was  not  till  the  second  day  that  somebody, 
as  he  expressed  it,  "  took  compassion  on  him." 

The  pain  which  is  felt  when  we  are  first  transplanted  from 
our  native  soil,  when  the  living  branch  is  cut  from  the  parent 
tree,  is  one  of  the  most  poignant  which  we  have  to  endure 
through  life.  There  are  after  griefs  which  wound  more  deeply, 
which  leave  behind  them  scars  never  to  be  effaced,  which 
bruise  the  spirit  and  sometimes  break  the  heart ;  but  never 
do  we  feel  so  keenly  the  want  of  love,  the  necessity  of  being 
loved,  and  the  sense  of  utter  desertion,  as  when  we  first  leave 
the  haven  of  home,  and  are,  as  it  were,  pushed  off  upon  the 
stream  of  life.  Added  to  these  feelings,  the  sea-boy  has  to 
endure  physical  hardships,  and  the  privation  of  every  comfoft, 
even  of  sleep.  Nelson  had  a  feeble  body  and  an  affectionate 
heart,  and  he  remembered  through  life  his  first  days  of 
wretchedness  in  the  service. 

The  Raisomiahle  having  been  commissioned  on  account  of 
the  dispute  respecting  the  Falkland  Islands,^  was  paid  off  as 
soon  as  the  difference  with  the  Court  of  Spain  was  accommo- 
dated, and  Captain  Suckling  was  removed  to  the  Triumph^ 
seventy-four,  then  stationed  as  a  guardship  in  the  Thames. 
This  was  considered  as  too  inactive  a  life  for  a  boy,  and 
Nelson  was  therefore  sent  a  voyage  to  the  West  Indies  in  a 
merchant  ship  commanded  by  Mr.  John  Rathbone,  an  excel- 
lent seaman,  who  had  served  as  master's  mate  under  Captain 
Suckling  in  the  Dread7iought.  He  returned  a  practical  seaman, 
but  with  a  hatred  of  the  King's  service,  and  a  saying  then 
common  among  the  sailors,  "  Aft  the  most  honor ;  forward 
the  better  man."     Rathbone  had  probably  been  disappointed 

^  Falkland  Islands.  —  Two  dreary,  inhospitable  islands  situated  in  the 
Southern  Atlantic  ocean,  a  dispute  about  which,  at  this  time,  had  nearly 
aroused  England  to  declare  war  against  Spain. 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  5 

and  disgusted  in  the  navy ;  and,  with  no  unfriendly  intentions, 
warned  Nelson  against  a  profession  which  he  himself  had 
found  hopeless.  His  uncle  received  him  on  board  the  Triumph 
on  his  return,  and  discovering  his  dislike  to  the  navy,  took  the 
best  means  of  reconciling  him  to  it.  He  held  it  out  as  a 
reward,  that  if  he  attended  well  to  his  navigation,  he  should  go 
in  the  cutter  and  decked  long-boat,  which  was  attached  to  the 
commanding  officer's  ship  at  Chatham.  Thus  he  became  a 
good  pilot  for  vessels  of  that  description  from  Chatham  to  the 
Tower,  and  down  the  Swin  Channel  ^  to  the  North  Foreland, 
and  acquired  a  confidence  among  rocks  and  sands  of  which  he 
often  felt  the  value. 

Nelson  had  not  been  many  months  on  board  the  Triumph 
when  his  love  of  enterprise  was  excited  by  hearing  that  two 
ships  were  fitting  out  for  a  voyage  of  discovery  towards  the 
North  Pole.  In  consequence  of  the  difficulties  which  were 
expected  on  such  a  service,  these  vessels  were  to  take  out 
effective  men  instead  of  the  usual  number  of  boys.  This, 
however,  did  not  deter  him  from  soliciting  to  be  received,  and 
by  his  uncle's  interest  he  was  admitted  as  coxswain  under 
Captain  Lutwidge,  second  in  command.  The  voyage  was 
undertaken  in  compliance  with  an  application  from  the  Royal 
Society.^  The  Hon.  Captain  Constantine  John  Phipps,  eldest 
son  of  Lord  Mulgrave,  volunteered  his  services.  The  Racehorse 
and  Carcass  bombs  were  selected,  as  the  strongest  ships,  and 
therefore  best  adapted  for  such  a  voyage ;  and  they  were 
taken  into  dock  and  strengthened,  to  render  them  as  secure  as 

^  Swin  Channel.  —  An  important  channel  at  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Thames.  *  Nelson's  own  words  were  :  "  Thus  by  degrees  I  became  a  good 
pilot,  for  vessels  of  that  description,  from  Chatham  to  the  Tower  of 
London,  down  the  Swin,  and  to  the  North  Foreland,  and  confident  of 
myself  amongst  rocks  and  sands,  which  has  many  times  since  been  of  the 
greatest  comfort  to  me."  —  Sketch  of  my  Life. 

2  Royal  Society.  —  The  famous  society  incorporated  by  King  Charles 
the  Second.     One  of  the  most  renowned  learned  societies  in  the  world. 


6  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

possible  against  the  ice.  Two  masters  of  Greenlandmen  were 
employed  as  pilots  for  each  ship. 

No  expedition  was  ever  more  carefully  fitted  out ;  and  the 
First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  Lord  Sandwich,  with  a  laudable 
solicitude,  went  on  board  himself  before  their  departure  to  see 
that  everything  had  been  completed  to  the  wish  of  the  officers. 
The  ships  were  provided  with  a  simple  and  excellent  apparatus 
for  distilling  fresh  from  salt  water,  the  invention  of  Dr.  Irving, 
who  accompanied  the  expedition.  It  consisted  merely  of 
fitting  a  tube  to  the  ship's  kettle,  and  applying  a  wet  mop  to 
the  surface,  as  the  vapor  was  passing.  By  these  means,  from 
thirty-four  to  forty  gallons  were  produced  every  day. 

They  sailed  from  the  Nore  on  the  4th  of  June  ;  on  the  6th 
of  the  following  month  they  were  in  latitude  79°  56'  39", 
longitude  9°  43'  30"  E.  The  next  day,  about  the  place  where 
most  of  the  old  discoverers  had  been  stopped,  the  Racehorse 
was  beset  with  ice ;  but  they  hove  her  through  with  ice- 
anchors.  Captain  Phipps  continued  ranging  along  the  ice, 
northward  and  westward,  till  the  24th  ;  he  then  tried  to  the 
eastward.  On  the  30th  he  was  in  latitude  80°  13',  longitude 
18°  48' E.,  among  the  islands  and  in  the  ice,  with  no  appearance 
of  an  opening  for  the  ships.  The  weather  was  exceedingly 
fine,  mild,  and  unusually  clear.  Here  they  were  becalmed  in 
a  large  bay,  with  three  apparent  openings  between  the  islands 
which  formed  it ;  but  everywhere,  as  far  as  they  could  see, 
surrounded  with  ice.  There  was  not  a  breath  of  air,  the  water 
was  perfectly  smooth,  the  ice  covered  with  snow,  low  and  even, 
except  a  few  broken  pieces  near  the  edge ;  and  the  pools  of 
water  in  the  middle  of  the  ice-fields  just  crusted  oVer  with 
young  ice.  On  the  next  day  the  ice  closed  upon  them,  and  no 
opening  was  to  be  seen  anywhere,  except  a  hole  or  lake,  as  it 
might  be  called,  of  about  a  mile  and  a  half  in  circumference, 
where  the  ships  lay  fast  to  the  ice  with  their  ice-anchors. 
They  filled  their  casks  with  water  from  these  ice-fields,  which 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  7 

was  very  pure  and  soft.  The  men  were  playing  on  the  ice  all 
day  ;  but  the  Greenland  pilots,  who  were  farther  than  they 
had  ever  been  before,  and  considered  that  the  season  was  far 
advancing,  were  alarmed  at  being  thus  beset.  ^ 

The  next  day  there  was  not  the  smallest  opening ;  the  ships 
were  within  less  than  two  lengths  of  each  other,  separated  by 
ice,  and  neither  having  room  to  turn.  The  ice,  which  the  day 
before  had  been  flat  and  almost  level  with  the  water's  edge, 
was  now  in  many  places  forced  higher  than  the  mainyard,  by 
the  pieces  squeezing  together.  A  day  of  thick  fog  followed  ;  it 
was  succeeded  by  clear  weather,  but  the  passage  by  which  the 
ships  had  entered  from  the  westward  was  closed,  and  no  open 
water  was  in  sight,  either  in  that  or  any  other  quarter.  By 
the  pilots'  advice  the  men  were  set  to  cut  a  passage,  and  warp 
through  the  small  openings  to  the  westward.  They  sawed 
through  pieces  of  ice  twelve  feet  thick  ;  and  this  labor  con- 
tinued the  whole  day,  during  which  their  utmost  efforts  did 
not  move  the  ships  above  three  hundred  yards ;  while  they 
were  driven,  together  with  the  ice,  far  to  the  N.  E.  and  E.  by 
the  current.  Sometimes  a  field  of  several  acres  square  would 
be  lifted  up  between  two  larger  islands,  and  incorporated  with 
them ;  and  thus  these  larger  pieces  continued  to  grow  by  aggre- 
gation. Another  day  passed,  and  there  seemed  no  probability 
of  getting  the  ships  out  without  a  strong  E.  or  N.  E.  wind. 
The  season  was  far  advanced,  and  every  hour  lessened  the 
chance  of  extricating  themselves. 

Young  as  he  was.  Nelson  was  appointed  to  command  one  of 
the  boats  which  were  sent  out  to  explore  a  passage  into  the 
open  water.  It  was  the  means  of  saving  a  boat  belonging  to 
the  Racehorse  from  a  singular  but  imminent  danger.  Some  of 
the  officers  had  fired  at  and  wounded  a  walrus.  As  no  other 
animal  has  so  human-like  an  expression  in  its  countenance,  so 
also  is  there  none  that  seems  to  possess  more  of  the  passions 
of  humanity.      The  wounded  animal  dived  immediately,  and 


8  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

brought  up  a  number  of  its  companions,  and  they  all  joined  in 
an  attack  upon  the  boat.  They  wrested  an  oar  from  one  of 
the  men  ;  and  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  the  crew 
could  prevent  them  from  staving  or  upsetting  her,  till  the 
Carcasses  boat  came  up ;  and  the  walruses,  finding  their  enemies 
thus  reinforced,  dispersed. 

Young  Nelson  exposed  himself  in  a  more  daring  manner. 
One  night,  during  the  mid-watch,  he  stole  from  the  ship  with 
one  of  his  comrades,  taking  advantage  of  a  rising  fog,  and  set 
out  over  the  ice  in  pursuit  of  a  bear.  It  was  not  long  before 
they  were  missed.  The  fog  thickened,  and  Captain  Lutwidge 
and  his  officers  became  exceedingly  alarmed  for  their  safety. 
Between  three  and  four  in  the  morning  the  weather  cleared, 
and  the  two  adventurers  were  seen,  at  a  considerable  distance 
from  the  ship,  attacking  a  huge  bear.  The  signal  for  them  to 
return  was  immediately  made :  Nelson's  comrade  called  upon 
him  to  obey  it,  but  in  vain ;  his  musket  had  flashed  in  the 
pan ;  their  ammunition  was  expended ;  and  a  chasm  in  the  ice, 
which  divided  him  from  the  bear,  probably  preserved  his  life. 
"  Never  mind,"  he  cried ;  "  do  but  let  me  get  a  blow  at  him 
with  the  butt-end  of  my  musket,  and  we  shall  have  him." 
Captain  Lutwidge,  however,  seeing  his  danger,  fired  a  gun, 
which  had  the  desired  effect  of  frightening  the  beast ;  and  the 
boy  then  returned,  somewhat  afraid  of  the  consequences  of  his 
trespass.  The  captain  reprimanded  him  sternly  for  conduct  so 
unworthy  of  the  office  which  he  filled,  and  desired  to  know 
what  motive  he  could  have  for  hunting  a  bear.  "  Sir,"  said  he, 
pouting  his  lip,  as  he  was  wont  to  do  when  agitated,  "  I  wished 
to  kill  the  bear  that  I  might  carry  the  skin  to  my  father." 

A  party  were  now  sent  to  an  island,  about  twelve  miles  off 
(named  Walden's  Island  in  the  chart,  from  the  midshipman 
who  was  intrusted  with  this  service),  to  see  where  the  open 
water  lay.  They  came  back  with  information  that  the  ice, 
though  close  all  about  them,  was  open  to  the  westward,  round 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  9 

the  point  by  which  they  came  in.  They  said  also,  that  upon 
the  island  they  had  had  a  fresh  east  wind.  This  intelligence 
considerably  abated  the  hopes  of  the  crew ;  for  where  they  lay 
it  had  been  almost  calm,  and  their  main  dependence  had  been 
upon  the  effect  of  an  easterly  wind  in  clearing  the  bay.  There 
was  but  one  alternative,  either  to  wait  the  event  of  the  weather 
upon  the  ships,  or  to  betake  themselves  to  the  boats.  The 
likelihood  that  it  might  be  necessary  to  sacrifice  the  ships  had 
been  foreseen;  the  boats,  accordingly,  were  adapted,  both  in 
number  and  size,  to  transport,  in  case  of  emergency,  the  whole 
crew ;  and  there  were  Dutch  whalers  upon  the  coast,  in  which 
they  could  all  be  conveyed  to  Europe.  As  for  wintering  where 
they  were,  that  dreadful  experiment  had  been  already  tried  too 
often.  No  time  was  to  be  lost;  the  ships  had  driven  into 
shoal  water,  having  but  14  fathoms.  Should  they,  or  the  ice 
to  which  they  were  fast,  take  the  ground,  they  must  inevitably 
be  lost ;  and  at  this  time  they  were  driving  fast  towards  some 
rocks  on  the  N.  E.  Captain  Phipps  had  sent  for  the  officers  of 
both  ships,  and  told  them  his  intention  of  preparing  the  boats 
for  going  away.  They  were  immediately  hoisted  out,  and  the 
fitting  began.  Canvas  bread-bags  were  made,  in  case  it  should 
be  necessary  suddenly  to  desert  the  vessels ;  and  men  were 
sent  with  the  lead  and  line  to  the  northward  and  eastward,  to 
sound  wherever  they  found  cracks  in  the  ice,  that  they  might 
have  notice  before  the  ice  took  the  ground,  for  in  that  case  the 
ships  must  have  instantly  been  crushed  or  overset. 

On  the  7th  of  August  they  began  to  haul  the  boats  over  the 
ice,  Nelson  having  command  of  the  four-oared  cutter.  The 
men  behaved  excellently  well,  like  true  British  seamen ;  they 
seemed  reconciled  to  the  thought  of  leaving  the  ships,  and  had 
full  confidence  in  their  officers.  About  noon,  the  ice  appeared 
rather  more  open  near  the  vessels;  and  as  the  wind  was  easterly, 
though  there  was  but  little  of  it,  the  sails  were  set,  and  they 
got  about  a  mile  to  the  westward.     They  moved  very  slowly, 


lO  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

and  they  were  not  now  nearly  so  far  to  the  westward  as  when 
they  were  first  beset.  However,  all  sail  was  kept  upon  them, 
to  force  them  through  whenever  the  ice  slacked  the  least. 
Whatever  exertions  were  made,  it  could  not  be  possible  to  get 
the  boats  to  the  water's  edge  before  the  1 4th ;  and  if  the  situa- 
tion of  the  ships  should  not  alter  by  that  time,  it  would  not  be 
justifiable  to  stay  longer  by  them.  The  commander  therefore 
resolved  to  carry  on  both  attempts  together,  moving  the  boats 
constantly,  and  taking  every  opportunity  of  getting  the  ships 
through.  A  party  was  sent  out  next  day  to  the  westward,  to 
examine  the  state  of  the  icec  they  returned  with  tidings  that 
it  was  very  heavy  and  close,  consisting  chiefly  of  large  fields. 
The  ships,  however,  moved  something,  and  the  ice  itself  was 
drifting  westward.  There  was  a  thick  fog,  so  that  it  was 
impossible  to  ascertain  what  advantage  had  been  gained.  It 
continued  on  the  9th,  but  the  ships  were  moved  a  little  through 
some  very  small  openings :  the  mist  cleared  off  in  the  after- 
noon, and  it  was  then  perceived  that  they  had  driven  much 
more  than  could  have  been  expected  to  the  westward,  and  that 
the  ice  itself  had  driven  still  farther.  In  the  course  of  the  day 
they  got  past  the  boats,  and  took  them  on  board  again.  On  the 
morrow  the  wind  sprang  up  to  the  N.  N.  E.  All  sail  was  set, 
and  the  ships  forced  their  way  through  a  great  deal  of  very 
heavy  ice.  They  frequently  struck,  and  with  such  force  that 
one  stroke  broke  the  shank  of  the  Racehorse's  best  bower 
anchor ;  but  the  vessels  made  way,  and  by  noon  they  had 
cleared  the  ice  and  were  out  at  sea.  The  next  day  they 
anchored  in  Smeerenberg  harbor,  close  to  that  island  of  which 
the  westernmost  point  is  called  Hakluyt's  ^  Headland,  in  honor 
of  the  great  promoter  and  compiler  of  our  English  voyages  of 
discovery. 

1  Richard  Hakluyt  (i 553-1616).  —  Famous  for  his  contribution  to  the 
literature  of  travels  and  voyages  commonly  known  as  "  Hakluyt's  Voyages." 
This  quaint  work  contains  much  valuable  matter  pertaining  to  the  early 
settlement  of  North  America. 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  II 

Here  they  remained  for  a  few  days,  that  the  men  might  rest 
after  their  fatigue.  No  insect  was  to  be  seen  in  this  dreary 
country,  nor  any  species  of  reptile,  not  even  the  common  earth- 
worm. Large  bodies  of  ice,  called  icebergs,  filled  up  the  valleys 
between  high  mountains  —  so  dark  as,  when  contrasted  with  the 
snow,  to  appear  black.  The  color  of  the  ice  was  a  lively  light 
green.  Opposite  to  the  place  where  they  had  fixed  their 
observatory  was  one  of  these  icebergs,  above  three  hundred 
feet  high :  its  side  towards  the  sea  was  nearly  perpendicular, 
and  a  stream  of  water  issued  from  it.  Large  pieces  frequently 
broke  off,  and  rolled  down  into  the  sea.  There  was  no  thunder 
nor  lightning  during  the  whole  time  they  were  in  these  latitudes. 
The  sky  was  generally  loaded  with  hard  white  clouds,  from 
which  it  was  never  entirely  free,  even  in  the  clearest  weather. 
jThey  always  knew  when  they  were  approaching  the  ice  long 
before  they  saw  it,  by  a  bright  appearance  near  the  horizon, 
which  the  Greenlandmen  called  the  blink  of  the  ice.  The 
season  was  now  so  far  advanced  that  nothing  more  could  have 
been  attempted,  if  indeed  anything  had  been  left  untried ;  but 
the  summer  had  been  unusually  favorable,  and  they  had  care- 
fully surveyed  the  wall  of  ice  extending  for  more  than  twenty 
degrees  between  the  latitudes  of  80°  and  81°,  without  the 
smallest  appearance  of  any  opening. 

The  ships  were  paid  off  shortly  after  their  return  to  Eng- 
land ;  and  Nelson  was  then  placed  by  his  uncle  with  Captain 
Farmer,  in  the  Seahorse^  of  twenty  guns,  then  going  out  to  the 
East  Indies  in  the  squadron  under  Sir  Edward  Hughes.  He 
was  stationed  in  the  foretop  at  watch  and  watch.  His  good 
conduct  attracted  the  attention  of  the  master  (afterwards  Cap- 
tain Surridge),  in  whose  watch  he  was,  and  upon  his  recom- 
mendation the  captain  rated  him  as  midshipman.  At  this 
time  his  countenance  was  florid,  and  his  appearance  rather 
stout  and  athletic  ;  but  when  he  had  been  about  eighteen 
months  in  India  he  felt  the  effects  of  that  climate,  so  perilous 


12  SOUTHEYS    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

to  European  constitutions.  The  disease  baffled  all  power  of 
medicine  ;  he  was  reduced  almost  to  a  skeleton  ;  the  use  of  his 
limbs  was  for  some  time  entirely  lost  ;  and  the  only  hope  that 
remained  was  from  a  voyage  home.  Accordingly  he  was 
brought  home  by  Captain  Pigot,  in  the  Dolphin^  and  had  it 
not  been  for  the  attentive  and  careful  kindness  of  that  officer 
on  the  way,  Nelson  would  never  have  lived  to  reach  his  native 
shores.  Long  afterwards,  when  the  name  of  Nelson  was  known 
as  widely  as  that  of  England  itself,  he  spoke  of  the  feelings 
which  he  at  this  time  endured.  "  I  felt  impressed,"  said  he, 
"  with  a  feeling  that  I  should  never  rise  in  my  profession.  My 
mind  was  staggered  with  a  view  of  the  difficulties  I  had  to  sur- 
mount, and  the  little  interest  I  possessed.  I  could  discover  no 
means  of  reaching  the  object  of  my  ambition.  After  a  long 
and  gloomy  reverie,  in  which  I  almost  wished  myself  overboard, 
a  sudden  glow  of  patriotism  was  kindled  within  me,  and  pre- 
sented my  King  and  country  as  my  patron.  *  Well,  then,'  I 
exclaimed,  *  I  will  be  a  hero,  and,  confiding  in  Providence, 
brave  every  danger ! '  " 

Long  afterwards  Nelson  loved  to  speak  of  the  feeling  of  that 
moment ;  and  from  that  time,  he  often  said,  a  radiant  orb  was 
suspended  in  his  mind's  eye,  which  urged  him  onward  to  re- 
nown. The  state  of  mind  in  which  these  feelings  began  is 
what  the  mystics  mean  by  their  season  of  darkness  and  deser- 
tion. If  the  animal  spirits  fail,  they  represent  it  as  an  actual 
temptation.  The  enthusiasm  of  Nelson's  nature  had  taken  a 
different  direction,  but  its  essence  was  the  same.  He  knew 
to  what  the  previous  state  of  dejection  was  to  be  attributed  ; 
that  an  enfeebled  body  and  a  mind  depressed  had  cast  this  shade 
over  his  soul ;  but  he  always  seemed  willing  to  believe  that  the 
sunshine  which  succeeded  bore  with  it  a  prophetic  glory,  and 
that  the  light  which  led  him  on  was  "  light  from  heaven."  ^ 

1  "  This  resolution  to  do,  begotten  in  a  moment  of  wretchedness,  became 
the  noble,  animating,  enduring  impulse  of  his  glorious  mind.     It  never 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  1 3 

[^  His  interest,  however,  was  far  better  than  he  imagined. 
During  his  absence  Captain  Suckling  had  been  made  Comp- 
troller of  the  Navy ;  his  health  had  materially  improved  upon 
the  voyage  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  Dolphin  was  paid  oif  he  was 
appointed  acting-lieujfenant  in  the  Worcester^  sixty-four.  Captain 
Mark  Robinson,  then  going  out  with  convoy  to  Gibraltar. 
Soon  after  his  return,  on  the  8th  of  April,  1777,  he  passed  his 
examination  for  a  lieutenancy.  Captain  Suckling  sat  at  the 
head  of  the  board,  and  when  the  examination  had  ended,  in  a 
manner  highly  honorable  to  Nelson,  rose  from  his  seat,  and 
introduced  him  to  the  examining  captains  as  his  nephew.  They 
expressed  their  wonder  that  he  had  not  informed  them  of  this 
relationship  before ;  he  replied  that  he  did  not  wish  the 
younker  to  be  favored ;  he  knew  his  nephew  would  pass  a 
good  examination,  and  he  had  not  been  deceived.  The  next 
day  Nelson  received  his  commission  as  second  lieutenant  of  the 
Lowestoffe  frigate,  Captain  William  Locker,  then  fitting  out  for 
Jamaica. 

About  this  time  he  lost  his  uncle.  Captain  Locker,  how- 
ever, who  had  perceived  the  excellent  qualities  of  Nelson,  and 
formed  a  friendship  for  him,  which  continued  during  his  life, 
recommended  him  warmly  to  Sir  Peter  Parker,  then  com- 
mander-in-chief upon  that  station.  In  consequence  of  this 
recommendation  he  was  removed  into  the  Bristol  flag-ship, 
and  Lieutenant  Cuthbert  Collingwood  succeeded  him  in  the 
Lowestoffe.  He  soon  became  first  lieutenant ;  and  on  the  8th 
of  December,  1778,  was  appointed  commander  of  the  Badger 
brig,  Collingwood  again  succeeding  him  in  the  Bristol  While 
the  Badger  was  lying  in  Montego  Bay,  Jamaica,  the  Glasgow^ 
of  twenty  guns,  came  in  and  anchored  there,  and  in  two  hours 

failed  him.  It  was  an  ever-growing  passion.  Nay,  to  his  fervid  imagina- 
tion it  seemed  a  thing  embodied,  indeed;  for  he  would  often  declare  to  his 
friend  Hardy,  that  from  that  hour  there  was  suspended  before  his  mind's 
eye  a  radiant  orb  that  courted  him  onward  to  renown." 


14  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

was  in  flames,  the  steward  having  set  fire  to  her  while  stealing 
rum  out  of  the  after-hold.  Her  crew  were  leaping  into  the 
water,  when  Nelson  came  up  in  his  boats,  made  them  throw 
their  powder  overboard  and  point  their  guns  upward,  and  by 
his  presence  of  mind  and  personal  exertions  prevented  the  loss 
of  life  which  would  otherwise  have  ensued.  On  the  nth  of 
June,  1779,  he  was  made  post^  into  the  Hmchinhrook^  of  twenty- 
eight  guns,  an  enemy's  merchantman,  sheathed  with  wood, 
which  had  been  taken  into  the  service. 

A  short  time  after  he  left  the  Lowestqffe,  that  ship,  with  a 
small  squadron,  stormed  the  fort  of  St.  Fernando  de  Omoa,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Bay  of  Honduras,  and  captured  some 
register  ships  which  were  lying  under  its  guns.  Two  hundred 
and  fifty  quintals  ^  of  quicksilver  and  three  millions  of  piastres  ^ 
were  the  reward  of  this  enterprise  ;  and  it  is  characteristic  of 
Nelson  that  the  chance  by  which  he  missed  a  share  in  such  a 
prize  is  never  mentioned  in  any  of  his  letters,  nor  is  it  likely 
that  it  ever  excited  even  a  momentary  feeling  of  vexation. 

Nelson  was  fortunate  in  possessing  good  interest  at  the  time 
when  it  could  be  most  serviceable  to  him  :  his  promotion  had 
been  almost  as  rapid  as  it  could  be,  and  before  he  had  attained 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  had  gained  that  rank  which  brought 
all  the  honors  of  the  service  within  his  reach.  No  oppor- 
tunity, indeed,  had  yet  been  given  him  of  distinguishing  him- 
self ;  but  he  was  thoroughly  master  of  his  profession,  and  his 
zeal  and  ability  were  acknowledged  wherever  he  was  known. 
Count  d'Estaing,  with  a  fleet  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
sail,  men-of-war  and  transports,  and  a  reputed  force  of  five-and- 
twenty  thousand  men,  threatened  Jamaica  from  St.  Domingo. 
Nelson  offered  his  services  to  the  Admiral  and  to  Governor- 

1  Made  post.  — That  is,  a  post-captain,  —  a  full  captain.  Commanders 
were  often  called  captains  by  courtesy. 

2  Quintal.  —  A  hundredweight. 

^  Piastre.  —  A  Spanish  coin  worth  about  a  dollar. 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  1 5 

General  Bailing,  and  was  appointed  to  command  the  batteries 
of  Fort  Charles  at  Port  Royal.  Not  more  than  seven  thousand 
men  could  be  mustered  for  the  defense  of  the  island  —  a  number 
wholly  inadequate  to  resist  the  force  which  threatened  them. 
Of  this  Nelson  was  so  well  aware,  that  when  he  wrote  to  his 
friends  in  England  he  told  them  they  must  not  be  surprised  to 
hear  of  his  learning  to  speak  French.  D'Estaing,  however, 
was  either  not  aware  of  his  own  superiority,  or  not  equal  to 
the  command  with  which  he  was  intrusted :  he  attempted 
nothing  with  this  formidable  armament,  and  General  Balling 
was  thus  left  to  execute  a  project  which  he  had  formed  against 
the  Spanish  colonies. 

This  project  was  to  take  Fort  San  Juan,  on  the  river  of  that 
name,  which  flows  from  Lake  Nicaragua  into  the  Atlantic ; 
make  himself  master  of  the  lake  itself  and  of  the  cities  of 
Grenada  and  Leon,  and  thus  cut  off  the  communication  of  the 
Spaniards  between  their  northern  and  southern  possessions  in 
America.  Here  it  is  that  a  canal  ^  between  the  two  seas  may 
most  easily  be  formed  —  a  work  more  important  in  its  conse- 
quences than  any  which  has  ever  yet  been  effected  by  human 
power.  Lord  George  Germaine,  at  that  time  Secretary  of  State 
for  the  American  Bepartment,  approved  the  plan ;  and  as  dis- 
contents at  that  time  were  known  to  prevail  in  the  Nuevo 
Reyno,  in  Popayan,  and  in  Peru,  the  more  sanguine  part  of  the 
English  began  to  dream  of  acquiring  an  empire  in  one  part  of 
America  more  extensive  than  that  which  they  were  on  the 
point  of  losing  in  another.  General  Balling's  plans  were  well 
formed,  but  the  history  and  the  nature  of  the  country  had  not 
been  studied  as  accurately  as  its  geography :  the  difficulties 
which  occurred  in  fitting  out  the  expedition  delayed  it  till  the 

1  A  Canal.  —  In  the  light  of  what  is  here  written  by  Southey,  the  student 
will  be  pleased  to  recall  what  has  been  done  in  recent  years  towards  carry- 
ing out  this  old-time  and  favorite  scheme  for  connecting  the  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  oceans. 


1 6  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

season  was  too  far  advanced,  and  the  men  were  thus  sent  to 
adventure  themselves,  not  so  much  against  an  enemy,  whom 
they  would  have  beaten,  as  against  a  climate,  which  would  do 
the  enemy's  work. 

Early  in  the  year  1780  five  hundred  men,  destined  for  this 
service,  were  convoyed  by  Nelson  from  Port  Royal  to  Cape 
Gracias  a  Dios,  in  Honduras.  Not  a  native  was  to  be  seen 
when  they  landed:  they  had  been  taught  that  the  English  came 
with  no  other  intent  than  that  of  enslaving  them,  and  sending 
them  to  Jamaica.  After  awhile,  however,  one  of  them  ven- 
tured down,  confiding  in  his  knowledge  of  one  of  the  party  ; 
and  by  his  means  the  neighboring  tribes  were  conciliated  with 
presents  and  brought  in.  The  troops  were  encamped  on  a 
swampy  and  unwholesome  plain,  where  they  were  joined  by  a 
party  of  the  79th  regiment  from  Black  River,  who  were  already 
in  a  deplorable  state  of  sickness.  Having  remained  here  a 
month,  they  proceeded,  anchoring  frequently,  along  the  Mos- 
quito shore,  to  collect  their  Indian  allies,  who  were  to  furnish 
proper  boats  for  the  river,  and  to  accompany  them.  They 
reached  the  River  San  Juan  March  24,  and  here,  according  to 
his  orders.  Nelson's  services  were  to  terminate ;  but  not  a  man 
in  the  expedition  had  ever  been  up  the  river  or  knew  the  dis- 
tance of  any  fortification  from  its  mouth,  and  he,  not  being  one 
who  would  turn  back  when  so  much  was  to  be  done,  resolved 
to  carry  the  soldiers  up.  About  two  hundred,  therefore,  were 
embarked  in  the  Mosquito  shore  craft  and  in  two  of  the  Hin- 
chinhrook^s  boats,  and  they  began  their  voyage.  It  was  the 
latter  end  of  the  dry  season,  the  worst  time  for  such  an  ex- 
pedition ;  the  river  was  consequently  low.  Indians  were  sent 
forward  through  narrow  channels  between  shoals  and  banks, 
and  the  men  were  frequently  obliged  to  quit  the  boats,  and 
exert  their  utmost  strength  to  drag  or  thrust  them  along.  This 
labor  continued  for  several  days,  when  they  came  into  deeper 
water  ;    they  had  then  currents   and  rapids  to  contend  with, 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  1/ 

which  would  have  been  insurmountable  but  for  the  skill  of  the 
Indians  in  such  difficulties.  The  brunt  of  the  labor  was  borne 
by  them  and  by  the  sailors — men  never  accustomed  to  stand 
aloof  when  any  exertion  of  strength  or  hardihood  is  required. 
The  soldiers,  less  accustomed  to  rely  upon  themselves,  were  of 
little  use.  But  all  equally  endured  the  violent  heat  of  the  sun, 
rendered  more  intense  by  being  reflected  from  the  white  shoals, 
while  the  high  woods  on  both  sides  of  the  river  were  fre- 
quently so  close  as  to  prevent  all  refreshing  circulation  of  air ; 
and  during  the  night  all  were  equally  exposed  to  the  heavy 
and  unwholesome  dews. 

On  the  9th  of  April  they  reached  an  island  in  the  river  called 
San  Bartolomeo,  which  the  Spaniards  had  fortified  as  an  out- 
post with  a  small  semicircular  battery,  mounting  nine  or  ten 
swivels  and  manned  with  sixteen  or  eighteen  men.  It  com- 
manded the  river  in  a  rapid  and  difficult  part  of  the  navigation. 
Nelson,  at  the  head  of  a  few  of  his  seamen,  leaped  upon  the 
beach.  The  ground  upon  which  he  sprang  was  so  muddy  that 
he  had  some  difficulty  in  extricating  himself,  and  lost  his  shoes  ; 
barefooted,  however,  he  advanced,  and  in  his  own  phrase, 
boarded  the  battery.  In  this  resolute  attempt  he  was  bravely 
supported  by  the  well-known  Despard,^  at  that  time  a  captain 
in  the  army.  The  castle  of  San  Juan  is  situated  about  sixteen 
miles  higher  up  ;  the  stores  and  ammunition,  however,  were 
landed  a  few  miles  below  the  castle,  and  the  men  had  to  march 
through  woods  almost  impassable. 

One  of  the  men  was  bitten  under  the  eye  by  a  snake,  which 
darted  upon  him  from  the  bough  of  a  tree.     He  was  unable  to 

1  Despard.  —  In  the  year  1803  this  brave  but  ill-fated  man  conspired 
with  a  party  of  soldiers,  at  a  house  in  Oakley  Street,  Lambeth,  to  assassi- 
nate King  George  III.  on  his  way  to  open  Parliament.  Being  arrested  and 
brought  to  trial,  he  was  executed  at  Horsemonger  Lane  jail.  Several 
Honduras  merchants,  to  whom  Despard  was  personally  known,  since  his 
untimely  death  have  positively  asserted  that  his  insanity  was  indisputable. 
—  Clarke  and  M'Arthur's  Life  of  Nelson. 


1 8  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

proceed  from  the  violence  of  the  pain,  and  when,  after  a  short 
while,  some  of  his  comrades  were  sent  back  to  assist  him,  he  was 
dead,  and  the  body  already  putrid.  Nelson  himself  narrowly 
escaped  a  similar  fate.  He  had  ordered  his  hammock  to  be 
slung  under  some  trees,  being  excessively  fatigued,  and  was 
sleeping,  when  a  monitory  lizard  passed  across  his  face.  The 
Indians  happily  observed  the  reptile,  and .  knowing  what  it 
indicated,  awoke  him.  He  started  up,  and  found  one  of  the 
deadliest  serpents  of  the  country  coiled  up  at  his  feet.  He 
suffered  from  poison  of  another  kind ;  for,  drinking  at  a  spring 
in  which  some  boughs  of  the  manchineel  ^  had  been  thrown,  the 
effects  were  so  severe  as,  in  the  opinion  of  some  of  his  friends, 
to  inflict  a  lasting  injury  upon  his  constitution. 

The  castle  of  San  Juan  is  thirty-two  miles  below  the  Lake 
of  Nicaragua,  from  which  the  river  issues,  and  sixty-nine  from 
its  mouth.  Boats  reach  the  sea  from  thence  in  a  day  and 
a  half ;  but  their  navigation  back,  even  when  unladen,  is  the 
labor  of  nine  days.  The  English  appeared  before  it  on  the 
nth,  two  days  after  they  had  taken  San  Bartolomeo.  Nelson's 
advice  was,  that  it  should  instantly  be  carried  by  assault :  but 
Nelson  was  not  the  commander,  and  it  was  thought  proper  to 
observe  all  the  formalities  of  a  siege.  Ten  days  were  wasted 
before  this  could  be  commenced  :  it  was  a  work  more  of  fatigue 
than  of  danger,  but  fatigue  was  more  to  be  dreaded  than  the 
enemy.  The  rains  set  in,  and  could  the  garrison  have  held  out 
a  little  longer,  disease  would  have  rid  them  of  their  invaders. 
Even  the  Indians  sunk  under  it,  the  victims  of  unusual  exertion 
and  of  their  own  excesses.  The  place  surrendered  on  the  24th ; 
but  victory  procured    to   the  conquerors   none  of   that  relief 

^  ManchineeL  — A  West  Indian  tree  and  regarded  as  the  most  poisonous 
of  all  known  vegetable  productions.  The  whole  plant  abounds  in  a  milky 
juice  of  a  venomous  nature  ;  dropped  on  the  skin  it  produces  a  sensation  of 
severe  burning,  followed  by  a  blister,  and  the  fruit  when  bitten  causes 
dangerous  inflammation  of  the  mouth. 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  1 9 

which  had  been  expected.  The  castle  was  worse  than  a  prison, 
and  it  contained  nothing  which  could  contribute  to  the  recovery 
of  the  sick  or  the  preservation  of  those  who  were  yet  unaffected. 
The  huts,  which  served  for  hospitals,  were  surrounded  with 
filth  and  with  the  putrefying  hides  of  slaughtered  cattle  —  almost 
sufficient  of  themselves  to  have  engendered  pestilence;  and 
when  at  last  orders  were  given  to  erect  a  convenient  hospital, 
the  contagion  had  become  so  general  that  there  were  none  who 
could  work  at  it ;  for,  besides  the  few  who  were  able  to  perform 
garrison  duty,  there  were  not  orderly  men  enough  to  assist  the 
sick.  Added  to  these  evils  there  was  the  want  of  all  needful 
remedies,  for  though  the  expedition  had  been  amply  provided 
with  hospital  stores,  river  craft  enough  had  not  been  procured 
for  transporting  the  requisite  baggage ;  and  when  much  was  to 
be  left  behind,  provision  for  sickness  was  that  which  of  all 
things  men  in  health  would  be  most  ready  to  leave.  Now, 
when  these  medicines  were  required,  the  river  was  swollen, 
and  so  turbulent  that  its  upward  navigation  was  almost  imprac- 
ticable. At  length  even  the  task  of  burying  the  dead  was 
more  than  the  living  could  perform,  and  the  bodies  were  tossed 
into  the  stream,  or  left  for  beasts  of  prey,  and  for  the  gallinazos, 
those  dreadful  carrion-birds^  which  do  not  always  wait  for 
death  before  they  begin  their  work.  Five  months  the  English 
persisted  in  what  may  be  called  this  war  against  nature  ;  they 
then  left  a  few  men,  who  seemed  proof  against  the  climate,  to 
retain  the  castle  till  the  Spaniards  should  choose  to  retake  it 
and'  make  them  prisoners.  The  rest  abandoned  their  baleful 
conquest.  Eighteen  hundred  men  were  sent  to  different  posts 
upon  this  wretched  expedition  :  not  more  than  three  hundred 
and  eighty  ever  returned.  The  Hinchinhrook' s  complement 
consisted  of  two  hundred  men  ;  eighty-seven  took  to  their 
beds  in  one  night,  and  of  the  whole  crew  not  more  than  ten 
survived. 
^  Carrion-birds.  —  The  South  American  vultures,  known  as  the  gallinazos. 


20  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

Nelson  himself  was  saved  by  a  timely  removal.  In  a  few 
days  after  the  commencement  of  the  siege  he  was  seized  with 
the  prevailing  dysentery ;  meantime  Captain  Glover  died,  and 
Nelson  was  appointed  to  succeed  him  in  the  Janus ^  of  forty-four 
guns.  He  returned  to  the  harbor  the  day  before  San  Juan 
surrendered,  and  immediately  sailed  for  Jamaica  in  the  sloop 
which  brought  the  news  of  his  appointment.  He  was,  however, 
so  greatly  reduced  by  the  disorder,  that  when  they  reached 
Port  Royal  he  was  carried  ashore  in  his  cot;  and  finding  him- 
self, after  a  partial  amendment,  unable  to  retain  the  command 
of  his  new  ship,  he  was  compelled  to  ask  leave  to  return  to 
England,  as  the  only  means  of  recovery.  Captain  (afterwards 
Admiral)  Cornwallis  took  him  home  in  the  Lion ;  and  to  his 
care  and  kindness  Nelson  believed  himself  indebted  for  his  life. 
He  went  immediately  to  Bath,  in  a  miserable  state  ;  so  helpless, 
that  he  was  carried  to  and  from  his  bed,  and  the  act  of  moving 
him  produced  the  most  violent  pain.  In  three  months  he  recov- 
ered, and  immediately  hastened  to  London  and  applied  for 
employment.  After  an  interval  of  about  four  months  he  was 
appointed  to  the  Albemarle^  of  twenty-eight  guns,  a  French 
merchantman  which  had  been  purchased  from  the  captors  for 
the  King's  service. 

His  health  was  not  yet  thoroughly  re-established,  and  while 
he  was  employed  in  getting  his  ship  ready  he  again  became  so 
ill  as  hardly  to  be  able  to  keep  oyt  of  bed.  Yet  in  this  state, 
still  suffering  from  the  fatal  effect  of  a  West  Indian  climate,  as 
if — it  might  almost  be  supposed,  he  said  —  to  try  his  constitu- 
tion, he  was  sent  to  the  North  Seas,  and  kept  there  the  whole 
winter.  The  asperity  with  which  he  mentioned  this  so  many 
years  after,  evinces  how  deeply  he  resented  a  mode  of  conduct 
equally  cruel  to  the  individual  and  detrimental  to  the  service. 
It  was  during  the  armed  neutrality ;  ^  and  when  they  anchored 

^  Armed  Neutrality.  —  A  confederacy  of  the  Northern  powers,  Russia, 
Sweden,  and  Denmark,  established   to  defend  the  principle  that  no  mer- 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  21 

off  Elsinore,  the  Danish  admiral  sent  on  board,  desiring  to  be 
informed  what  ships  had  arrived,  and  to  have  their  force 
written  down.  "  The  Albemarle^^  said  Nelson  to  the  messenger, 
"  is  one  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ships  ;  you  are  at  liberty,  sir, 
to  count  the  guns  as  you  go  down  the  side,  and  you  may  assure 
the  Danish  admiral  that,  if  necessary,  they  shall  all  be  well 
served."  During  this  voyage  he  gained  a  considerable  knowl- 
edge of  the  Danish  coast  and  its  soundings,  greatly  to  the 
advantage  of  his  country  in  after  times.  The  Albemarle  was 
not  a  good  ship,  and  was  several  times  nearly  overset,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  masts  having  been  made  much  too  long  for 
her.  On  her  return  to  England  they  were  shortened,  and 
some  other  improvements  made,  at  Nelson's  suggestion.  Still 
he  always  insisted  that  her  first  owners,  the  French,  had  taught 
her  to  run  away,  as  she  was  never  a  good  sailer  except  when 
going  directly  before  the  wind. 

On  their  return  to  the  Downs,  while  he  was  ashore  visiting 
the  senior  officer,  there  came  on  so  heavy  a  gale  that  almost  all 
the  vessels  drove,  and  a  store-ship  came  athwart-hawse  of  the 
Albemarle.  Nelson  feared  she  would  drive  on  the  Goodwin 
Sands  ;  ^  he  ran  to  the  beach,  but  even  the  Deal  boatmen 
thought  it  impossible  to  get  on  board,  such  was  the  violence  of 
the  storm.  At  length  some  of  the  most  intrepid  offered  to 
make  the  attempt  for  fifteen  guineas,  and,  to  the  astonishment 
and  fear  of  the  beholders,  Nelson  embarked  during  the  height 
of  the  tempest.  With  great  difficulty  and  imminent  danger  he 
succeeded  in  reaching  her.  She  lost  her  bowsprit  and  fore- 
mast, but  escaped  further  injury.  He  was  now  ordered  to 
Quebec,  where,  his  surgeon  told  him,  he  would  certainly  be 

chandise  in  neutral  ships  should  be  liable  to  capture  by  vessels  belonging  to 
nations  at  war  with  each  other. 

^  Goodwin  Sands.  — A  series  of  dangerous  sandbars  along  the  coast  of 
Kent.  The  student  will  recall  the  reference  to  them  in  "  The  Merchant 
of  Venice." 


22  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

laid  up  by  the  climate.  Many  of  his  friends  urged  him  to 
represent  this  to  Admiral  Keppel ;  but  having  received  his 
orders  from  Lord  Sandwich,  there  appeared  to  him  an  indeli- 
cacy in  applying  to  his  successor  to  have  them  altered. 

Accordingly  he  sailed  for  Canada.  During  her  first  cruise 
on  that  station  the  Albemarle  captured  a  fishing  schooner,  which 
contained  in  her  cargo  nearly  all  the  property  that  her  master 
possessed,  and  the  poor  fellow  had  a  large  family  at  home 
anxiously  expecting  him.  Nelson  employed  him  as  a  pilot  in 
Boston  Bay,  then  restored  him  the  schooner  and  cargo,  and 
gave  him  a  certificate  to  secure  him  against  being  captured  by 
any  other  vessel.  The  man  came  oif  afterwards  to  the  Albe- 
marle^ at  the  hazard  of  his  life,  with  a  present  of  sheep,  poultry, 
and  fresh  provisions.  A  most  valuable  supply  it  proved,  for 
the  scurvy  was  raging  on  board:  this  was  in  the  middle  of 
August,  and  the  ship's  company  had  not  had  a  fresh  meal  since 
the  beginning  of  April.  The  certificate  was  preserved  at 
Boston  in  memory  of  an  act  of  unusual  generosity ;  and  now 
that  the  fame  of  Nelson  has  given  interest  to  everything  con- 
nected with  his  name,  it  is  regarded  as  a  relic. 

The  Albemarle  was  under  orders  to  convey  a  fleet  of  trans- 
ports to  New  York.  **A  very  pretty  job,"  said  her  captain, 
"at  this  late  season  of  the  year  "  (October  was  far  advanced), 
"for  our  sails  are  at  this  moment  frozen  to  the  yards."  On 
his  arrival  at  Sandy  Hook  he  waited  on  the  commander-in- 
chief.  Admiral  Digby,  who  told  him  he  was  come  on  a  fine 
station  for  making  prize-money.  "  Yes,  sir,"  Nelson  made 
answer ;  "  but  the  West  Indies  is  the  station  for  honor." 
Lord  Hood,  with  a  detachment  of  Rodney's  victorious  fleet, 
was  at  that  time  in  Sandy  Hook :  he  had  been  intimate  with 
Captain  Suckling,  and  Nelson,  who  was  desirous  of  nothing 
but  honor,  requested  him  to  ask  for  the  Albemarle^  that  he 
might  go  to  that  station  where  it  was  most  likely  to  be  obtained. 
Admiral  Digby  reluctantly  parted  with  him. 


FIRST    YEARS    AT    SEA.  23 

His  professional  merit  was  already  well  known;  and  Lord 
Hood,  on  introducing  him  to  Prince  William  Henry,^  as  the 
Duke  of  Clarence  was  then  called,  told  the  Prince,  if  he  wished 
to  ask  any  questions  respecting  naval  tactics.  Captain  Nelson 
could  give  him  as  much  information  as  any  officer  in  the  fleet. 
The  Duke,  who,  to  his  own  honor,  became  from  that  time  the 
firm  friend  of  Nelson,  describes  him  as  appearing  the  merest 
boy  of  a  captain  he  had  ever  seen,  dressed  in  a  full  lace  uni- 
form, an  old-fashioned  waistcoat  with  long  flaps,  and  his  lank 
unpowdered  hair  tied  in  a  stiff  Hessian  tail  ^  of  extraordinary 
length  ;  making  altogether  so  remarkable  a  figure,  "  that,"  says 
the  Duke,  "  I  had  never  seen  anything  like  it  before,  nor  could 
I  imagine  who  he  was,  nor  what  he  came  about.  But  his 
address  and  conversation  were  irresistibly  pleasing ;  and  when 
he  spoke  on  professional  subjects  it  was  with  an  enthusiasm 
that  showed  he  was  no  common  being." 

Tidings  soon  arrived  that  the  preliminaries  of  peace  had 
been  signed ;  and  the  Albemarle  returned  to  England,  and  was  ^ 
paid  off.  Nelson's  first  business,  after  he  got  to  London,  even 
before  he  went  to  see  his  relations,  was  to  attempt  to  get  the 
wages  due  to  his  men  for  the  various  ships  in  which  they  had 
served  during  the  war.  "  The  disgust  of  seamen  to  the  navy," 
he  said,  '*  was  all  owing  to  the  iniquitous  plan  of  turning  them 
over  from  ship  to  ship,  so  that  men  could  not  be  attached  to 
the  officers,  nor  the  officers  care  the  least  about  the  men."    Yet 

^  Prince  William  Henry. — Third  son  of  George  III.,  afterwards  King 
William  IV. 

2  Hessian  Tail.  —  The  king  of  Prussia  was  the  first  to  adopt  the  pigtail 
as  a  modification  of  the  wig.  He  introduced  it  into  his  army,  and  not  only 
did  the  other  European  armies  follow  his  example,  but  it  became  a  fashion- 
able part  of  dress.  This  lasted  until  the  beginning  of  the  present  century, 
when  it  gradually  disappeared.  It  was,  however,  longest  retained  in  the 
Hessian  army.  As  the  Hessian  soldiers,  often  hired  by  the  English  gov- 
ernment as  mercenaries,  were  thus  familiar  to  Englishmen,  the  explanation 
of  the  ^^ Hessian  tail "  may  be  due  to  this  fact. 


24  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

he  himself  was  so  beloved  by  his  men  that  his  whole  ship's 
company  offered,  if  he  could  get  a  ship,  to  enter  for  her  imme- 
diately. He  was  now,  for  the  first  time,  presented  at  Court. 
After  going  through  this  ceremony  he  dined  with  his  friend 
Davison  at  Lincoln's  Inn.  As  soon  as  he  entered  the  cham- 
bers he  threw  off  what  he  called  his  iron-bound  coat,  and  put- 
ting himself  at  ease  in  a  dressing-gown,  passed  the  remainder 
of  the  day  in  talking  over  all  that  had  befallen  them  since  they 
parted  on  the  shore  of  the  River  St.  Lawrence. 


CHAPTER   II. 


IN    THE    WEST    INDIES. 


"  T  HAVE  closed  the  war,"  said  Nelson  in  one  of  his  letters, 
X  "  without  a  fortune ;  but  there  is  not  a  speck  on  my 
character.  True  honor,  I  hope,  predominates  in  my  mind  far 
above  riches."  In  March  he  was  appointed  to  the  Boreas^ 
twenty-eight  guns,  going  to  the  Leeward  Islands  as  a  cruiser, 
on  the  peace  establishment.  Lady  Hughes  and  her  family 
went  out  with  him  to  Admiral  Sir  Richard  Hughes,  who  com- 
manded on  that  station.  His  ship  was  full  of  young  midship- 
men, of  whom  there  were  not  less  than  thirty  on  board ;  and 
happy  were  they  whose  lot  it  was  to  be  placed  with  such  a  cap- 
tain.^ If  he  perceived  that  a  boy  was  afraid  at  first  going  aloft, 
he  would  say  to  him  in  a  friendly  manner  :  "  Well,  sir,  I  am 
going  a  race  to  the  masthead,  and  beg  that  I  may  meet  you 
there."  The  poor  little  fellow  instantly  began  to  climb,  and  got 
up  how  he  could ;  Nelson  never  noticed  in  what  manner,  but 
when  they  met  in  the  top,  spoke  cheerfully  to  him,  and  would 
say  how  much  any  person  was  to  be  pitied  who  fancied  that 

1  A  gallant  officer  thus  describes  his  commander's  personal  habits  at  this 
time  :  "  He  rose  every  morning  between  four  and  five  o'clock,  breakfasted  at 
six,  sometimes  much  earlier,  and  was  in  bed  by  ten.  The  breakfast  party 
always  included  one  or  two  midshipmen ;  and  he  would  often,  during  the 
middle  watch  —  that  is,  between  twelve  and  four  o'clock  —  send  the  little 
fellows  an  invitation  to  breakfast  after  they  should  come  off  duty  at  four 
o'clock.  A  treat  indeed  for  the  lads  to  look  forward  to  !  At  table  he 
would  joke  with  the  merriest  of  them  and  be  the  most  youthful  of  the 
party.  At  dinner  every  officer  of  the  ship  was  his  guest  in  turn,  and  Nel- 
son performed  his  part  as  a  host  in  an  eminent  degree  polished  and  hospi- 
table. The  whole  business  of  the  fleet  was  invariably  dispatched  before 
eight  o'clock.     No  man  ever  more  keenly  appreciated  the  value  of  time." 


26  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

getting  up  was  either  dangerous  or  difficult.  Every  day  he 
went  into  the  school-room,  to  see  that  they  were  pursuing  their 
nautical  studies ;  and  at  noon  he  was  always  the  first  on  deck 
with  his  quadrant.  Whenever  he  paid  a  visit  of  ceremony  some 
of  these  youths  accompanied  him ;  and  when  he  went  to  dine 
with  the  governor  of  Barbadoes  he  took  one  of  them  in  his 
hand  and  presented  him,  saying :  "  Your  Excellency  must 
excuse  me  for  bringing  one  of  my  midshipmen.  I  make  it 
a  rule  to  introduce  them  to  all  the  good  company  I  can,  as 
they  have  few  to  look  up  to  besides  myself  during  the  time 
they  are  at  sea." 

The  Americans  were  at  this  time  trading  with  our  islands, 
taking  advantage  of  the  register  of  their  ships,  which  had  been 
issued  while  they  were  British  subjects.  Nelson  knew  that  by 
the  Navigation  Act  ^  no  foreigners,  directly  or  indirectly,  are 
permitted  to  carry  on  any  trade  with  these  possessions ;  he 
knew  also  that  the  Americans  had  made  themselves  foreigners 
with  regard  to  England  ;  they  had  broken  the  ties  of  blood  and 
language,  and  had  acquired  the  independence  which  they  had 
been  provoked  to  claim,  unhappily  for  themselves,  before  they 
were  fit  for  it ;  and  he  was  resolved  that  they  should  derive  no 
profit  from  those  ties  now.  Foreigners  they  had  made  them- 
selves, and  as  foreigners  they  were  to  be  treated.  "  If  once," 
said  he,  "they  are  admitted  to  any  kind  of  intercourse  with 
our  islands,  the  views  of  the  loyalists  in  Settling  at  Nova  Scotia 
are  entirely  done  away,  and  when  we  are  again  embroiled  in  a 
French  war  the  Americans  will  first  become  the  carriers  of  these 

1  Navigation  Act.  —  In  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  the 
Dutch  had  got  the  carrying  trade  of  Europe  into  their  hands.  In  1651 
the  English  Parliament  passed  the  Navigation  Act  to  stop  this  monopoly. 
Only  English  vessels  were  allowed  to  import  goods  into  England.  Excep- 
tion was  made  in  the  case  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  country  in  which  the 
goods  they  carried  were  produced.  The  Act  was  reenacted  in  1660.  In 
1849  the  Act  was  repealed,  and  foreign  shipping  admitted  to  compete  with 
English. 


IN    THE    WEST    INDIES.  2/ 

colonies,  and  then  have  possession  of  them.  Here  they  come, 
sell  their  cargoes  for  ready  money,  go  to  Martinico,  buy  mo- 
lasses, and  so  round  and  round.  The  loyalist  cannot  do  this, 
and  consequently  must  sell  a  little  dearer.  The  residents  here 
are  Americans  by  connection  and  by  interest,  and  are  inimical 
to  Great  Britain.  They  are  as  great  rebels  as  ever  were  in 
America  had  they  the  power  to  show  it." 

In  November,  when  the  squadron,  having  arrived  at  Bar- 
badoes,  was  to  separate,  with  no  other  orders  than  those  for 
examining  anchorages,  and  the  usual  inquiries  concerning  wood 
and  water.  Nelson  asked  his  friend  Collingwood,  then  Captain 
of  the  Mediator^  whose  opinions  he  knew  upon  the  subject,  to 
accompany  him  to  the  commander-in-chief,  whom  he  then  re- 
spectfully asked  whether  they  were  not  to  attend  to  the  com- 
merce of  the  country  and  see  that  the  Navigation  Act  was 
respected  —  that  appearing  to  him  to  be  the  intent  of  keeping 
men-of-war  upon  this  station  in  time  of  peace.  Sir  Richard 
Hughes  replied  he  had  no  particular  orders,  neither  had  the 
Admiralty  sent  him  any  acts  of  parliament.  But  Nelson  made 
answer  that  the  Navigation  Act  was  included  in  the  statutes  of 
the  Admiralty,  with  which  every  captain  was  furnished,  and 
that  act  was  directed  to  admirals,  captains,  etc.,  to  see  it  carried 
into  execution.  Sir  Richard  said  he  had  never  seen  the  book. 
Upon  this  Nelson  produced  the  statutes,  read  the  words  of  the 
act,  and  apparently  convinced  the  commander-in-chief  that 
men-of-war,  as  he  said,  "  were  sent  abroad  for  some  other  pur- 
pose than  to  be  made  a  show  of."     Accordingly  orders  were 

H       given  to  enforce  the  Navigation  Act. 

p^^^  Collingwood,  in  the  Mediator^  and  his  brother,  Wilfred  Col- 
lingwood, in  the  Rattler^  actively  cooperated  with  Nelson.  The 
custom  houses  were  informed  that  after  a  certain  day  all  foreign 
vessels  found  in  the  ports  would  be  seized ;  and  many  were  in 
consequence  seized,  and  condemned  in  the  Admiralty  Court. 
When  the  Boreas  arrived  at  Nevis  she  found  four  American 


28  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

vessels,  deeply  laden,  and  with  what  are  called  the  island  colors 
flying  —  white  with  a  red  cross.  They  were  ordered  to  hoist 
their  proper  flag,  and  depart  within  eight-and-forty  hours  ;  but 
they  refused  to  obey,  denying  that  they  were  Americans.  Some 
of  their  crews  were  then  examined  in  Nelson's  cabin,  where  the 
judge  of  the  Admiralty  happened  to  be  present.  The  case  was 
plain ;  they  confessed  that  they  were  Americans,  and  that  the 
ships,  hull  and  cargo,  were  wholly  American  property ;  upon 
which  he  seized  them.  This  raised  a  storm:  the  planters,  the 
custom  house,  and  the  governor  were  all  against  him.  Sub- 
scriptions were  opened,  and  presently  filled,  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  on  the  cause  in  behalf  of  the  American  captains ;  and 
the  admiral,  whose  flag  was  at  that  time  in  the  roads,  stood 
neutral. 

But  the  Americans  and  their  abettors  were  not  content  with 
defensive  law.  The  marines  whom  he  had  sent  to  secure  the 
ships  had  prevented  some  of  the  masters  from  going  ashore, 
and  those  persons,  from  whose  depositions  it  appeared  that  the 
vessels  and  cargoes  were  American  property,  declared  that  they 
had  given  their  testimony  under  bodily  fear,  for  .that  a  man 
with  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand  had  stood  over  them  the 
whole  of  the  time.  A  rascally  lawyer,  whom  the  party  em- 
ployed, suggested  this  story ;  and  as  the  sentry  at  the  cabin 
door  was  a  man  with  a  drawn  sword,  the  Americans  made  no 
scruple  of  swearing  to  this  ridiculous  falsehood,  and  commenc- 
ing prosecutions  against  him  accordingly.  They  laid  their 
damages  at  the  enormous  sum  of  ^40,000,  and  Nelson  was 
obliged  to  keep  close  on  board  his  own  ship  lest  he  should  be 
arrested  for  a  sum  for  which  it  would  have  been  impossible 
to  find  bail.  The  marshal  frequently  came  on  board  to  arrest 
him,  but  was  always  prevented  by  the  address  of  the  first 
lieutenant,  Mr.  Wallace.  Had  he  been  taken,  such  was  the 
temper  of  the  people  that  it  was  certain  he  would  have  been 
cast  for  the  whole  sum. 


IN    THE    WEST    INDIES.  29 

One  of  his  officers,  one  day,  in  speaking  of  the  restraint 
>vhich  he  was  thus  compelled  to  suffer,  happened  to  use  the 
word  pity.  "  Pity  !  "  exclaimed  Nelson,  "  Pity,  did  you  say  ? 
I  shall  live,  sir,  to  be  envied ;  and  to  that  point  I  shall  always 
direct  my  course." 

Eight  weeks  he  remained  under  this  state  of  duress. 
During  that  time  the  trial  respecting  these  detained  ships  came 
on  in  the  Court  of  Admiralty.  He  went  on  shore  under  a 
protection  for  the  day  from  the  judge ;  but  notwithstanding 
this,  the  marshal  was  called  upon  to  take  that  opportunity  of 
arresting  him,  and  the  merchants  promised  to  indemnify  him 
for  so  doing.  The  judge,  however,  did  his  duty,  and  threatened 
to  send  the  marshal  to  prison  if  he  attempted  to  violate  the 
protection  of  the  court.  Mr.  Herbert,  the  president  of  Nevis, 
behaved  with  singular  generosity  upon  this  occasion.  Though 
no  man  was  a  greater  sufferer  by  the  measures  which  Nelson 
had  pursued,  he  offered  in  court  to  become  his  bail  for  ^10,000 
if  he  chose  to  suffer  the  arrest.  The  lawyer  whom  he  had 
chosen  proved  to  be  an  able  as  well  as  an  honest  man,  and 
notwithstanding  the  opinions  and  pleadings  of  most  of  the 
counsel  of  the  different  islands,  who  maintained  that  ships  of 
war  were  not  justified  in  seizing  American  vessels  without  a 
deputation  from  the  Customs,  the  law  was  so  explicit,  the  case 
so  clear,  and  Nelson  pleaded  his  own  cause  so  well,  that  the 
four  ships  were  condemned. 

During  the  progress  of  this  business  he  sent  a  memorial 
home  to  the  King,  in  consequence  of  which  orders  were  issued 
that  he  should  be  defended  at  the  expense  of  the  Crown ;  and 
upon  the  representations  which  he  made  at  the  same  time  to 
the  Secretary  of  State,  and  the  suggestions  with  which  he 
accompanied    them,    the    Register    Act  ^   was    framed.      The 

1  Register  Act.  —  Under  this  Act,  passed  1786,  all  vessels  authorized  to 
sail  under  the  British  flag  were  required  to  be  registered,  —  "  an  act  for  the 
further  increase  and  encouragement  of  shipping  and  navigation." 


30  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

sanction  of  Government,  and  the  approbation  of  his  conduct 
which  it  implied,  were  highly  gratifying  to  him;  but  he  was 
offended,  and  not  without  just  cause,  that  the  Treasury  should 
have  transmitted  thanks  to  the  commander-in-chief  for  his 
activity  and  zeal  in  protecting  the  commerce  of  Great  Britain. 
"  Had  they  known  all,^ ''  said  he,  "  I  do  not  think  they  would 
have  bestowed  thanks  in  that  quarter,  and  neglected  me.  I 
feel  much  hurt,  that,  after  the  loss  of  health  and  risk  of  fortune, 
another  should  be  thanked  for  what  I  did  against  his  orders. 
I  either  deserved  to  be  sent  out  of  the  service,  or  at  least  to 
have  had  some  little  notice  taken  of  what  I  had  done.  They 
have  thought  it  worthy  of  notice,  and  yet  have  neglected  me. 
If  this  is  a  reward  for  a  faithful  discharge  of  my  duty,  I  shall 
be  careful,  and  never  stand  forward  again.  But  I  have  done 
my  duty,  and  have  nothing  to  accuse  myself  of." 

The  anxiety  he  had  suffered  from  the  harassing  uncertainties 
of  law  is  apparent  from  these  expressions.  He  had,  however, 
something  to  console  him,  for  he  was  at  this  time  wooing  the 
niece  of  his  friend  the  president,  then  in  her  eighteenth  year, 
the  widow  of  Dr.  Nisbet,  a  physician.  She  had  one  child,  a 
son,  by  name  Josiah,  who  was  three  years  old.  One  day,  Mr. 
Herbert,  who  had  hastened,  half-dressed,  to  receive  Nelson, 
exclaimed,  on  returning  to  his  dressing-room,  "  If  I  did  not 
find  that  great  little  man,  of  whom  everybody  is  so  afraid, 
playing  in  the  next  room,  under  the  dining-table,  with  Mrs. 
Nisbet's  child  ! ''  A  few  days  afterwards  Mrs.  Nisbet  herself 
was  first  introduced  to  him,  and  thanked  him  for  the  partiality 
which  he  had  shown  her  little  boy.  Her  manners  were  mild 
and  winning ;  and  the  captain,  whose  heart  was  easily  suscep- 
tible   of    attachment,  found   no   such   imperious   necessity  for 

^  Had  they  known,  etc.  —  The  attentive  student  may  find  other  similar 
complaints  in  this  book.  Like  many  other  great  public  men  Nelson  was 
not  diffident  in  overrating  his  own  services  to  his  country.  The  matter  of 
praise  and  promotion  was  always  a  tender  point  with  him. 


IN    THE    WEST    INDIES.  3 1 

subduing  his  inclinations  as  had  twice  before  withheld  him 
from  marrying.  They  were  married  on  March  ii,  1787; 
Prince  William  Henry,  who  had  come  out  to  the  West  Indies 
the  preceding  winter,  being  present,  by  his  own  desire,  to  give 
away  the  bride.  Mr.  Herbert,  her  uncle,  was  at  this  time  so 
much 'displeased  with  his  only  daughter  that  he  had  resolved 
to  disinherit  her,  and  leave  his  whole  fortune,  which  was  very 
great,  to  his  niece.  But  Nelson,  whose  nature  was  too  noble 
to  let  him  profit  by  an  act  of  injustice,  interfered,  and  suc- 
ceeded in  reconciling  the  president  to  his  child. 

"  Yesterday,"  said  one  of  his  naval  friends  the  day  after  the 
wedding,  "  the  navy  lost  one  of  its  greatest  ornaments  by 
Nelson's  marriage.  It  is  a  national  loss  that  such  an  officer 
should  marry ;  had  it  not  been  for  this.  Nelson  would  have 
become  the  greatest  man  in  the  service."  The  man  was 
rightly  estimated ;  but  he  who  delivered  this  opinion  did  not 
understand  the  effect  of  domestic  love  and  duty  upon  a  mind 
of  the  true  heroic  stamp. 

During  his  stay  upon  this  station  he  had  ample  opportunity 
of  observing  the  scandalous  practices  of  the  contractors,  prize- 
agents,  and  other  persons  in  the  West  Indies  connected  with 
the  naval  service.  When  he  was  first  left  with  •  the  command, 
and  bills  were  brought  him  to  sign  for  money  which  was  owing 
for  goods  purchased  for  the  navy,  he  required  the  original 
voucher,  that  he  might  examine  whether  those  goods  had  been 
really  purchased  at  the  market  price ;  but  to  produce  vouchers 
would  not  have  been  convenient,  and  therefore  was  not  the 
custom.  Upon  this  Nelson  wrote  to  Sir  Charles  Middleton, 
Comptroller  of  the  Navy,  representing  the  abuses  which  were 
likely  to  be  practiced  in  this  manner.  The  answer  which  he 
received  seemed  to  imply  that  the  old  forms  were  thought 
sufficient ;  and  thus,  having  no  alternative,  he  was  compelled, 
with  his  eyes  open,  to  submit  to  a  practice  originating  in 
fraudulent  intentions. 


32  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

Soon  afterwards,  two  Antigua  merchants  informed  him  that 
they  were  privy  to  great  frauds  which  had  been  committed 
upon  Government  in  various  departments  :  at  Antigua  to  the 
amount  of  nearly  ^500,000  ;  at  Lucie,  ;^3oo,ooo  ;  at  Barbadoes, 
^250,000;  at  Jamaica,  upwards  of  a  miUion.  The  informers 
were  both  shrewd,  sensible  men  of  business  ;  they  did  not  affect 
to  be  actuated  by  a  sense  of  justice,  but  required  a  percentage 
upon  so  much  as  Government  should  actually  recover  through 
their  means.  Nelson  examined  the  books  and  papers  which 
they  produced,  and  was  convinced  that  Government  had  been 
most  infamously  plundered.  Vouchers,  he  found,  in  that 
country,  were  no  check  whatever :  the  principle  was  "  that 
a  thing  was  always  worth  what  it  would  bring '' ;  and  the  mer- 
chants were  in  the  habit  of  signing  vouchers  for  each  other 
without  even  the  appearance  of  looking  at  the  articles.  These 
accounts  he  sent  home  to  the  different  departments  which  had 
been  defrauded ;  but  the  peculators  were  too  powerful,  and 
they  succeeded  not  merely  in  impeding  inquiry,  but  even  in 
raising  prejudices  againt  Nelson  at  the  Board  of  Admiralty, 
which  it  was  many  years  before  he  could  subdue.^ 

Owing  probably  to  these  prejudices,  and  the  influence  of  the 
peculators,  he  was  treated  on  his  return  to  England  in  a  man- 
ner which  had  nearly  driven  him  from  the  service.  During 
the  three  years  that  the  Boreas  had  remained  upon  a  station 
which  is  usually  so  fatal,  not  a  single  officer  or  man  of  her  whole 
complement  had  died.  This  almost  unexampled  instance  of 
good  health,  though  mostly,  no  doubt,  imputable  to  healthy 
seasons,  must  in  some  measure  also  be  ascribed  to  the  wise 
conduct  of  the  captain.  He  never  suffered  the  ships  to  remain 
more  than  three  or  four  at  a  time  at  any  of  the  islands ;  and 
when  the  hurricane  months  confined  him  to  English  Harbor, 
he  encouraged  all  kinds  of  useful  amusements  —  music,  dancing, 

1  The  highest  authorities  claim  that  there  is  no  truth  in  this  statement 
as  given  by  Mr.  Southey. 


IN    THE    WEST    INDIES.  33 

and  cudgelling  among  the  men,  theatricals  among  the  officers  ; 
anything  which  could  employ  their  attention  and  keep  their 
spirits  cheerful.     The  Boreas  arrived  in  England  in  June. 

Nelson,  who  had  many  times  been  supposed  to  be  consump- 
tive when  in  the  West  Indies,  and  perhaps  was  saved  from 
consumption  by  that  climate,  was  still  in  a  precarious  state  of 
health ;  and  the  raw  wet  weather  of  one  of  our  ungenial 
summers  brought  on  cold  and  sore  throat  and  fever  ;  yet  his 
vessel  was  kept  at  the  Nore  from  the  end  of  June  till  the  end 
of  November,  serving  as  a  slop  and  receiving  ship.  This 
unworthy  treatment^  which  more  probably  proceeded  from 
intention  than  from  neglect,  excited  in  Nelson  the  strongest 
indignation.  During  the  whole  five  months  he  seldom  or 
never  quitted  the  ship,  but  carried  on  the  duty  with  strict  and 
sullen  attention.  On  the  morning  when  orders  were  received 
to  prepare  the  Boreas  for  being  paid  off,  he  expressed  his  joy 
to  the  senior  officer  in  the  Medway,  saying :  "  It  will  release 
me  forever  from  an  ungrateful  service,  for  it  is  my  firm  and 
unalterable  determination  never  again  to  set  my  foot  on  board 
a  King's  ship.  Immediately  after  my  arrival  in  town  I  shall 
wait  upon  the  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty  and  resign  my 
commission." 

The  officer  to  whom  he  thus  communicated  his  intentions 
behaved  in  the  wisest  and  most  friendly  manner ;  for  finding 
it  vain  to  dissuade  him  in  his  present  state  of  feeling,  he  secretly 
interfered  with  the  First  Lord  to  save  him  from  a  step  so  injuri- 
ous to  himself,  little  foreseeing  how  deeply  the  welfare  and 
honor  of  England  were  at  that  moment  at  stake.  This  inter- 
ference produced  a  letter  from  Lord  Howe,  the  day  before  the 
ship  was  paid  off,  intimating  a  wish  to  see  Captain  Nelson  as 
soon  as  he  arrived  in  town  ;  when,  being  pleased  with  his  conr 
versation  and  perfectly  convinced  by  what  was  then  explained 
to  him  of  the  propriety  of  his  conduct,  he  desired  that  he  might 
present  him  to  the  King  on  the  first  levee  day ;  a-nd  the  gra- 


34  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

cious  manner  in  which  Nelson  was  then  received  effectually 
removed  his  resentment. 

Prejudices  had  been,  in  like  manner,  excited  against  his 
friend,  Prince  William  Henry.  "  Nothing  is  wanting,  sir," 
said  Nelson  in  one  of  his  letters,  "  to  make  you  the  darling  of 
the  English  nation,  but  truth.  Sorry  I  am  to  say,  much  to  the 
contrary  has  been  dispersed."  This  was  not  flattery,  for 
Nelson  was  no  flatterer.  The  letter  in  which  this  passage 
occurs  shows  in  how  wise  and  noble  a  manner  he  dealt  with 
the  Prince.  One  of  his  Royal  Highness's  officers  had  applied 
for  a  court-martial  upon  a  point  in  which  he  was  unquestion- 
ably wrong.  His  Royal  Highness,  however,  while  he  supported 
his  own  character  and  authority,  prevented  the  trial,  which 
must  have  been  injurious  to  a  brave  and  deserving  man. 
"  Now  that  you  are  parted,"  said  Nelson,  "  pardon  me,  my 
Prince,  when  I  presume  to  recommend  that  he  may  stand  in 
your  royal  favor  as  if  he  had  never  sailed  with  you,  and  that 
at  some  future  day  you  will  serve  him.  There  only  wants  this 
to  place  your  conduct  in  the  highest  point  of  view.  None  of 
us  are  without  failings  ;  his  was  being  rather  too  hasty  ;  but 
that,  put  into  competition  with  his  being  a  good  officer,  will 
not,  I  am  bold  to  say,  be  taken  in  the  scale  against  him. 
More  able  friends  than  myself  your  Royal  Highness  may  easily 
find,  and  of  more  consequence  in  the  State  ;  but  one  more 
attached  and  affectionate  is  not  so  easily  met  with.  Princes 
seldom,  very  seldom,  find  a  disinterested  person  to  communi- 
cate their  thoughts  to.  I  do  not  pretend  to  be  that  person  ; 
but  of  this  be  assured  by  a  man  who,  I  trust,  never  did  a  dis- 
honorable act,  that  I  am  interested  only  that  your  Royal 
Highness  should  be  the  greatest  and  best  man  this  country 
eyer  produced." 

Encouraged  by  the  conduct  of  Lord  Howe  and  by  his  recep- 
tion at  Court,  Nelson  renewed  his  attack  upon  the  peculators 
with  fresh  spirit.     He  had  interviews  with  Mr.  Rose,  Mr.  Pitt, 


IN    THE    WEST    INDIES.  35 

and  Sir  Charles  Middleton,  to  all  of  whom  he  satisfactorily 
proved  his  charges.  In  consequence,  it  is  said,  these  very 
extensive  public  frauds  were  at  length  put  in  a  proper  train  to 
be  provided  against  in  future;  his  representations  were  attended 
to,  and  every  step  which  he  recommended  was  adopted ;  the 
investigation  was  put  into  a  proper  course,  which  ended  in  the 
detection  and  punishment  of  some  of  the  culprits  ;  an  immense 
saving  was  made  to  Government ;  and  thus  its  attention  was 
directed  to  similar  peculations  in  other  parts  of  the  colonies. 

Nelson  took  his  wife  to  his  father's  parsonage,  meaning  only 
to  pay  him  a  visit  before  they  went  to  France  ;  a  project  which 
he  had  formed  for  the  sake  of  acquiring  a  competent  knowledge 
of  the  French  language.  But  his  father  could  not  bear  to  lose 
him  thus  unnecessarily.  Mr.  Nelson  had  long  been  an  invalid, 
suffering  under  paralytic  and  asthmatic  affections,  which  for 
several  hours  after  he  rose  in  the  morning  scarcely  permitted 
him  to  speak.  He  had  been  given  over  by  his  physicians  for 
this  complaint  nearly  forty  years  before  his  death,  and  was  for 
many  of  his  last  years  obliged  to  spend  all  his  winters  at  Bath. 
The  sight  of  his  son,  he  declared,  had  given  him  new  life. 
"  But,  Horatio,''  said  he,  **  it  would  have  been  better  that  I  had 
not  been  thus  cheered  if  I  am  so  soon  to  be  bereaved  of  you 
again.  Let  me,  my  good  son,  see  you  whilst  I  can.  My  age 
and  infirmities  increase,  and  I  shall  not  last  long."  To  such 
an  appeal  there  could  be  no  reply.  Nelson  took  up  his  abode 
at  the  parsonage,  and  amused  himself  with  the  sports  and 
occupations  of  the  country.  Sometimes  he  busied  himself  with 
farming  the  glebe  ;  sometimes  spent  the  greater  part  of  the  day 
in  the  garden,  where  he  would  dig  as  if  for  the  mere  pleasure 
of  wearying  himself ;  sometimes  he  went  a-bird's-nesting,  like 
a  boy;  and  in  these  expeditions  Mrs.  Nelson  always,  by  his 
express  desire,  accompanied  him.  Coursing  was  his  favorite 
amusement.  Shooting,  as  he  practiced  it,  was  far  too  danger- 
ous for  his  companions,  for  he  carried  his  gun  upon  the  full 


36  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

cock,  as  if  he  were  going  to  board  an  enemy,  and  the  moment 
a  bird  rose  he  would  let  fly,  without  ever  putting  the  fowling- 
piece  to  his  shoulder.  It  is  not,  therefore,  extraordinary  that 
his  having  once  shot  a  partridge  should  be  remembered  by  his 
family  among  the  remarkable  events  of  his  life. 
^  But  his  time  did  not  pass  away  thus  without  some  vexatious 
cares  to  ruffle  it.  The  affair  of  the  American  ships  was  not  yet 
over,  and  he  was  again  pestered  with  threats  of  prosecution. 
"  I  have  written  them  word,"  said  he,  **  that  I  will  have  nothing 
to  do  with  them,  and  they  must  act  as  they  think  proper. 
Government,  I  suppose,  will  do  what  is  right,  and  not  leave  me 
in  the  lurch.  We  have  heard  enough  lately  of  the  consequences 
of  the  Navigation  Act  to  this  country.  They  may  take  my 
person;  but  if  sixpence  would  save  me  from  a  prosecution,  I 
would  not  give  it."  It  was  his  great  ambition  at  this  time  to 
possess  a  pony,  and  having  resolved  to  purchase  one,  he  went 
to  a  fair  for  that  purpose.  During  his  absence  two  men 
abruptly  entered  the  parsonage  and  inquired  for  him ;  they 
then  asked  for  Mrs.  Nelson,  and  after  they  had  made  her 
repeatedly  declare  that  she  was  really  and  truly  the  captain's 
wife,  presented  her  with  a  writ,  or  notification,  on  the  part  of 
the  American  captains,  who  now  laid  their  damages  at  ;^2  0,000, 
and  they  charged  her  to  give  it  to  her  husband  on  his  return. 
Nelson  having  bought  his  pony,  came  home  with  it  in  high 
spirits.  He  called  out  his  wife  to  admire  the  purchase,  and 
listen  to  all  its  excellences ;  nor  was  it  till  his  glee  had  in  some 
measure  subsided  that  the  paper  could  be  presented  to  him. 
His  indignation  was  excessive,  and,  in  the  apprehension  that  he 
should  be  exposed  to  the  anxieties  of  the  suit  and  the  ruinous 
consequences  which  might  ensue,  he  exclaimed,  "This  affront 
I  did  not  deserve  !  But  I  '11  be  trifled  with  no  longer.  I  will 
write  immediately  to  the  Treasury,  and  if  Government  will  not 
support  me,  I  am  resolved  to  leave  the  country."  Accordingly, 
he  informed  the  Treasury  that  if  a  satisfactory  answer  were  not 


IN    THE    WEST    INDIES.  37 

sent  him  by  return  of  post,  he  should  take  refuge  in  France. 
To  this  he  expected  he  should  be  driven,  and  for  this  he 
arranged  everything  with  his  characteristic  rapidity  of  decision. 
It  was  settled  that  he  should  depart  immediately,  and  Mrs.  Nel- 
son follow,  under  the  care  of  his  elder  brother  Maurice,  ten 
days  after  him.  But  the  answer  which  he  received  from 
Government  quieted  his  fears ;  it  stated  that  Captain  Nelson 
was  a  very  good  officer,  and  needed  to  be  under  no  apprehen- 
sion, for  he  would  assuredly  be  supported. 

'Here  his  disquietude  upon  this  subject  seems  to  have  ended. 
Still  he  was  not  at  ease ;  he  wanted  employment,  and  was 
mortified  that  his  applications  for  it  produced  no  effect.  ''  Not 
being  a  man  of  fortune,''  he  said,  "  was  a  crime  which  he  was 
unable  to  get  over,  and  therefore  none  of  the  great  cared  about 
him."  Repeatedly  he  requested  the  Admiralty  that  they  would 
not  leave  him  to  rust  in  indolence.  During  the  armament 
which  was  made  upon  occasion  of  the  dispute  concerning 
Nootka  Sound  ^  he  renewed  his  application  ;  and  his  steady 
friend,  Prince  William,  who  had  then  been  created  Duke  of 
Clarence,  recommended  him  to  Lord  Chatham.^  The  failure 
of  this  recommendation  wounded  him  so  keenly  that  he  again 
thought  of  retiring  from  the  service  in  disgust:  a  resolution 
from  which  nothing  but  the  urgent  remonstrances  of  Lord 
Hood  induced  him  to  desist.  Hearing  that  the  Raisomiable^  in 
which  he  had  commenced  his  career,  was  to  be  commissioned, 
he  asked  for  her.  This  also  was  in  vain,  and  a  coolness 
ensued  on  his  part  towards  Lord  Hood,  because  that  excellent 
officer  did  not  use  his  influence  with  Lord  Chatham  on  this 
occasion.  Lord  Hood,  however,  had  certainly  sufficient  reason 
for  not  interfering,  for  he  ever  continued  his  steady  friend.     In 

^  Nootka  Sound.  —  On  the  west  side  of  Vancouver  Island.  An  English 
settlement  on  this  sound  had  been  seized  by  Spain  in  1789,  which  event 
nearly  led  to  war. 

2  Eldest  son  of  the  great  Lord  Chatham,  brother  of  William  Pitt. 


38  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

the  winter  of  1792,  when  we  were  on  the  eve  of  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  Nelson  once  more  offered  his  services,  earnestly 
requested  a  ship,  and  added  that  if  their  lordships  should  be 
pleased  to  appoint  him  to  a  cockle-boat,  he  should  feel  satis- 
fied. He  was  answered  in  the  usual  official  form  :  "  Sir,  —  I 
have  received  your  letter  of  the  5th  instant,  expressing  your 
readiness  to  serve,  and  have  read  the  same  to  my  Lords  Com- 
missioners of  the  Admiralty."  On  the  12th  of  December  he 
received  this  dry  acknowledgment.  This  fresh  mortification 
did  not,  however,  affect  him  long,  for  by  the  joint  interest  of 
the  Duke  and  Lord  Hood  he  was  appointed,  on  the  30th  of 
January  following,  to  the  Agamemnon^  of  sixty-four  guns. 


CHAPTER   III. 

FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN. 

"'^  I  ^HERE  are  three  things,  young  gentleman,'^  said  Nelson 
X  to  one  of  his  midshipmen,  *'  which  you  are  constantly  to 
bear  in  mind :  first,  you  must  always  implicitly  obey  orders,  with- 
out attempting  to  form  any  opinion  of  your  own  respecting  their 
propriety ;  secondly,  you  must  consider  every  man  your  enemy 
who  speaks  ill  of  your  King;  and  thirdly,  you  must  hate  a 
Frenchman."  With  these  feelings  he  engaged  in  the  war. 
Josiah,  his  stepson,  went  with  him  as  midshipman. 

The  Agamemnon  was  ordered  to  the  Mediterranean,  under 
Lord  Hood.  The  fleet  arrived  in  those  seas  at  a  time  when 
the  South  of  France  would  willingly  have  formed  itself  into  a 
separate  republic  under  the  protection  of  England  ;  but  good 
principles  had  been  at  that  time  perilously  abused  by  ignorant 
and  profligate  men,  and,  in  its  fear  and  hatred  of  democracy 
the  English  government  abhorred  whatever  was  republican. 
Lord  Hood  could  not  take  advantage  of  the  fair  occasion  which 
presented  itself,  and  which,  if  it  had  been  seized  with  vigor, 
might  have  ended  in  dividing  France  ;  but  he  negotiated  with 
the  people  of  Toulon  to  take  possession  provisionally  of  their 
port  and  city,  which,  fatally  for  themselves,  was  done.  Before 
the  British  fleet  entered.  Nelson  was  sent  with  dispatches  to 
Sir  William  Hamilton,  our  envoy  at  the  Court  of  Naples.  Sir 
William,  after  his  first  interview  with  him,  told  Lady  Hamilton 
he  was  about  to  introduce  a  little  man  to  her,  who  could  not 
boast  of  being  very  handsome,  but  such  a  man  as,  he  believed, 
would  one  day  astonish  the  world. 

Having  accomplished  this  mission.  Nelson  received  orders 
to  join  Commodore  Linzee  at  Tunis,  where  he  had  been  sent 


40  southey's  life  of  nelson.    ,.^ 

to  expostulate  with  the  Dey  upon  the  impolicy  of  his  supporting 
the  revolutionary  government  of  France.  Nelson  represented 
to  him  the  atrocity  of  that  government.  Such  arguments 
were  of  little  avail  in  Barbary  ;  and  when  the  Dey  was  told 
that  the  French  had  put  their  sovereign  to  death,  he  dryly 
replied,  that  "  nothing  could  be  more  heinous  ;  and  yet,  if 
historians  told  the  truth,  the  English  had  once  done  the  same." 
This  answer  had  doubtless  been  suggested  by  the  French 
about  him ;  they  had  completely  gained  the  ascendency,  and 
all  negotiation  on  our  part  proved  fruitless.  Shortly  afterwards 
Nelson  was  detached  with  a  small  squadron  to  cooperate  with 
General  Paoli  and  the  anti-Gallican  party  in  Corsica. 
|\  Some  thirty  years  before  this  time  the  heroic  patriotism  of 
the  Corsicans,  and  of  their  leader  Paoli,  had  been  the  admira- 
tion of  England.  The  history  of  these  brave  people  is  but  a 
melancholy  tale.  The  island  which  they  inhabit  has  been 
abundantly  blessed  by  nature  ;  it  has  many  excellent  harbors  ; 
and  though  the  malaria^  or  pestilential  atmosphere,  which  is 
so  deadly  in  many  parts  of  Italy  and  of  the  Italian  islands, 
prevails  on  the  eastern  coast,  the  greater  part  of  the  country  is 
mountainous  and  healthy.  It  is  about  150  miles  long  and 
from  40  to  50  broad,  in  circumference  some  3200  —  a  country 
large  enough,  and  sufficiently  distant  from  the  nearest  shores, 
to  have  subsisted  as  an  independent  state  if  the  welfare  and 
happiness  of  the  human  race  had  ever  been  considered  as  the 
end  and  aim  of  policy.  The  Moors,  the  Pisans,  the  kings  of 
Aragon,  and  the  Genoese,  successively  attempted  and  each 
for  a  time  effected  its  conquest.  The  yoke  of  the  Genoese 
continued  longest,  and  was  the  heaviest.  These  petty  tyrants 
ruled  with  an  iron  rod  ;  and  when  at  any  time  a  patriot  rose  to 
resist  their  oppressions,  if  they  failed  to  subdue  him  by  force, 
they  resorted  to  assassination.  At  the  commencement  of  the 
last  century  they  quelled  one  revolt  by  the  aid  of  German 
auxiliaries   whom    the    Emperor    Charles    VI.   sent    against    a 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  4I 

people  who  had  never  offended  him,  and  who  were  fighting  for 
whatever  is  most  dear  to  man.  In  1734  the  war  was  renewed, 
and  Theodore,  a  Westphalian  baron,  then  appeared  upon  the 
stage.  In  that  age  men  were  not  accustomed  to  see  adven- 
turers play  for  kingdoms,  and  Theodore  became  the  common 
talk  of  Europe.  He  had  served  in  the  French  armies,  and  hav- 
ing afterwards  been  noticed  both  by  Ripperda  ^  and  Alberoni,^ 
their  example  perhaps  inflamed  a  spirit  as  ambitious  and  as 
unprincipled  as  their  own.  He  employed  the  whole  of  his 
means  in  raising  money  and  procuring  arms  ;  then  wrote  to 
the  leaders  of  the  Corsican  patriots  to  offer  them  considerable 
assistance  if  they  would  erect  Corsica  into  an  independent 
kingdom  and  elect  him  king.  When  he  landed  among  them 
they  were  struck  with  his  stately  person,  his  dignified  manners, 
and  imposing  talents  :  they  believed  the  magnificent  promises 
of  foreign  assistance  which  he  held  out,  and  elected  him  king 
accordingly.  Had  his  means  been  as  he  represented  them, 
they  could  not  have  acted  more  wisely  than  in  thus  at  once 
fixing  the  government  of  their  country,  and  putting  an  end  to 
those  rivalries  among  the  leading  families  which  had  so  often 
proved  pernicious  to  the  public  weal.  He  struck  money,  con- 
ferred titles,  blocked  up  the  fortified  towns  which  were  held  by 
the  Genoese,  and  amused  the  people  with  promises  of  assistance 
for  about  eight  months  ;  then  perceiving  that  they  cooled  in 
their  affections  toward  him  in  proportion  as  their  expectations 
were  disappointed,  he  left  the  island  under  the  plea  of  expedi- 
ting himself  the  succors  which  he  had  so  long  awaited.  Such 
was  his  address  that  he  prevailed  upon  several  rich  merchants 

1  Ripperda.  —  A  Dutch  adventurer  who  became  virtually  prime  minister 
of  Spain  for  a  time.  After  his  downfall  he  commanded  the  army  of 
the  King  of  Morocco.     He  died  in  1737. 

2  Alberoni  (i 664-1 752).  —  An  Italian  adventurer  of  low  birth  who  became 
prime  minister  of  Spain  and  a  cardinal.  He  was  most  unscrupulous,  but 
did  much  to  revive  the  ancient  glory  of  Spain. 


42  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

in  Holland,  particularly  the  Jews,  to  trust  him  with  cannon 
and  warlike  stores  to  a  great  amount.  They  shipped  these 
under  the  charge  of  a  supercargo.  Theodore  returned  with 
this  supercargo  to  Corsica,  and  put  him  to  death  on  his  arrival, 
as  the  shortest  way  of  settling  the  account.  The  remainder  of 
his  life  was  a  series  of  deserved  afflictions.  He  threw  in  the 
stores  which  he  had  thus  fraudulently  obtained ;  but  he  did 
not  dare  to  land,  for  Genoa  had  now  called  in  the  French  to 
their  assistance,  and  a  price  had  been  set  upon  his  head.  His 
dreams  of  royalty  were  now  at  an  end  ;  he  took  refuge  in 
London,  contracted  debts',  and  was  thrown  into  the  King's 
Bench.^  After  lingering  there  many  years  he  was  released 
under  an  act  of  insolvency,  in  consequence  of  which  he  made 
over  the  kingdom  of  Corsica  for  the  use  of  his  creditors,  and 
died  shortly  after  his  deliverance. 

The  French,  who  have  never  acted  a  generous  part  in  the 
history  of  the  world,  readily  entered  into  the  views  of  the 
Genoese,  which  accorded  with  their  own  policy ;  for  such  was 
their  ascendency  at  Genoa,  that  in  subduing  Corsica  for  these 
allies,  they  were  in  fact  subduing  it  for  themselves.  They 
entered  into  the  contest,  therefore,  with  their  usual  vigor  and 
their  usual  cruelty.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  Corsicans  addressed 
a  most  affecting  memorial  to  the  Court  of  Versailles ;  that  re- 
morseless government  persisted  in  its  flagitious  project.  They 
poured  in  troops ;  dressed  a  part  of  them  like  the  people  of 
the  country,  by  which  means  they  deceived  and  destroyed  many 
of  the  patriots  ;  cut  down  the  standing  corn,  the  vines,  and  the 
olives  ;  set  fire  to  the  villages,  and  hung  all  the  most  able  and 
active  men  who  fell  into  their  hands.  A  war  of  this  kind 
may  be  carried  on  with  success  against  a  country  so  small  and 
so  thinly  peopled  as  Corsica.  Having  reduced  the  island  to 
perfect  servitude,  which  they  called  peace,  the  French  withdrew 
their  forces.     As  soon  as  they  were  gone,  men,  women,  and 

^  King's  Bench.  —  A  prison  in  which  debtors  were  confined. 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  43 

boys  rose  at  once  against  their  oppressors.  The  circumstances 
of  the  times  were  now  favorable  to  them,  and  some  British 
ships,  acting  as  allies  of  Sardinia,  bombarded  Bastia  and  St. 
Fiorenzo,  and  delivered  them  into  the  hands  of  the  patriots. 
This  service  was  long  remembered  with  gratitude  ;  the  impres- 
sion made  upon  our  own  countrymen  was  less  favorable. 
They  had  witnessed  the  heartburning  of  rival  chiefs  and  the 
dissensions  among  the  patriots,  and  perceiving  the  state  of 
barbarism  to  which  continual  oppression  and  habits  of  lawless 
turbulence  had  reduced  the  nation,  did  not  recollect  that  the 
vices  of  the  people  were  owing  to  their  unhappy  circumstances, 
but  that  the  virtues  which  they  displayed  arose  from  their  own 
nature.  This  feeling  perhaps  influenced  the  British  Court 
when  in  1746  Corsica  offered  to  put  herself  under  the  protec- 
tion of  Great  Britain.  An  answer  was  returned,  expressing 
satisfaction  at  such  a  communication,  hoping  that  the  Corsi- 
cans  would  preserve  the  same  sentiments,  but  signifying  also 
that  the  present  was  not  the  time  for  such  a  measure. 

The  brave  islanders  then  formed  a  government  for  them- 
selves under  two  leaders,  Gaffori  and  Matra,  who  had  the  title 
of  Protectors.  The  latter  is  represented  as  a  partisan  of  Genoa, 
favoring  the  views  of  the  oppressors  of  his  country  by  the 
most  treasonable  means.  Gaffori  was  a  hero  worthy  of  old 
times.  His  eloquence  was  long  remembered  with  admiration. 
A  band  of  assassins  was  once  advancing  against  him  ;  he  heard 
of  their  approach,  and  went  out  to  meet  them,  and,  with  a 
serene  dignity  which  overawed  them,  requested  them  to  hear 
him.  He  then  spake  to  them  so  forcibly  of  the  distresses  of 
their  country,  her  intolerable  wrongs,  and  the  hopes  and  views 
of  their  brethren-in-arms,  that  the  very  men  who  had  been 
hired  to  murder  him  fell  at  his  feet,  implored  his  forgiveness, 
and  joined  his  banner.  While  he  was  besieging  the  Genoese 
in  Corte,  a  part  of  the  garrison,  perceiving  the  nurse  with  his 
eldest  son,  then  an  infant  in  arms,  straying  at  a  little  distance 


44  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

from  the  camp,  suddenly  sallied  out  and  seized  them.  The 
use  they  made  of  their  persons  was  in  conformity  with  their 
usual  execrable  conduct.  When  Gaffori  advanced  to  batter  the 
walls,  they  held  up  the  child  directly  over  that  part  of  the  wall 
at  which  the  guns  were  pointed.  The  Corsicans  stopped,  but 
Gaffori  stood  at  their  head,  and  ordered  them  to  continue  the 
fire.  Providentially  the  child  escaped,  and  lived  to  relate,  with 
becoming  feeling,  a  fact  so  honorable  to  his  father.  That 
father  conducted  the  affairs  of  the  island  till  1753,  when  he 
was  assassinated  by  some  wretches,  set  on,  it  is  believed,  by 
Genoa,  but  certainly  pensioned  by  that  abominable  government 
after  the  deed.  He  left  the  country  in  such  a  state  that  it  was 
enabled  to  continue  the  war  two  years  after  his  death  without  a 
leader,  when  they  found  one  worthy  of  their  cause  in  Pasquale 
de  Paoli.^ 

Paoli's  father  was  one  of  the  patriots  who  effected  their 
escape  from  Corsica  when  the  French  reduced  it  to  obedience. 
He  retired  to  Naples,  and  brought  up  this  his  youngest  son  in 
the  Neapolitan  service.  The  Corsicans  heard  of  young  Paoli's 
abilities,  and  solicited  him  to  come  over  to  his  native  country, 
and  take  the  command.  He  did  not  hesitate  long:  his  father, 
who  was  too  far  advanced  in  years  to  take  an  active  part  him- 
self, encouraged  him  to  go ;  and  when  they  separated  the  old 
man  fell  on  his  neck  and  kissed  him,  and  gave  him  his  blessing. 
**  My  son,"  said  he,  "  perhaps  I  may  never  see  you  more  ;  but 
in  my  mind  I  shall  ever  be  present  with  you.  Your  design  is 
great  and  noble,  and  I  doubt  not  but  God  will  bless  you  in  it. 
I  shall  devote  to  your  cause  the  little  remainder  of  my  life  in 
offering  up  my  prayers  for  your  success."-  When  Paoli  assumed 
the  command  he  found  all  things  in  confusion:  he  formed  a 

^  Paoli.  —  The  reader  may  find  many  references  to  this  Paoli  in  Bos- 
well's  Life  of  Johnson.  In  fact,  Boswell  wrote  a  life  of  Paoli  and  was 
nicknamed  "  Paoli "  by  friends  who  ridiculed  his  admiration  of  the  Corsi- 
can  hero. 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  45 

democratical  government,  of  which  he  was  chosen  chief,  re- 
stored the  authority  of  the  laws,  established  a  university,  and 
took  such  measures,  both  for  repressing  abuses  and  molding 
the  rising  generation,  that  if  France  had  not  interfered,  upon 
its  wicked  and  detestable  principle  of  usurpation,  Corsica  might 
at  this  day  have  been  as  free  and  flourishing  and  happy  a  com- 
monwealth as  any  of  the  Grecian  States  in  the  days  of  their 
prosperity.  The  Genoese  were  at  this  time  driven  out  of  their 
fortified  towns,  and  must  in  a  short  time  have  been  expelled. 
France  was  indebted  some  millions  of  livres  to  Genoa;  it  was 
not  convenient  to  pay  this  money ;  so  the  French  Minister  pro- 
posed to  the  Genoese  that  she  should  discharge  the  debt  by 
sending  six  battalions  to  serve  in  Corsica  for  four  years.  The 
indignation  which  this  conduct  excited  in  all  generous  hearts 
was  forcibly  expressed  by  Rousseau,  who,  with  all  his  errors, 
was  seldom  deficient  in  feeling  for  the  wrongs  of  humanity. 
"  You  Frenchmen,''  said  he,  writing  to  one  of  that  people, 
"  are  a  thoroughly  servile  nation,  thoroughly  sold  to  tyranny, 
thoroughly  cruel,  and  relentless  in  persecuting  the  unhappy. 
If  they  knew  of  a  freeman  at  the  other  end  of  the  world,  I 
believe  they  would  go  thither  for  the  mere  pleasure  of  extir- 
pating him." 

The  immediate  object  of  the  French  happened  to  be  purely 
mercenary,  —  they  wanted  to  clear  off  their  debt  to  Genoa ;  and  ' 
as  the  presence  of  their  troops  in  the  island  effected  this,  they 
aimed  at  doing  the  people  no  farther  mischief.  Would  that 
the  conduct  of  England  had  been  at  this  time  free  from  re- 
proach ;  but  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  the  English  govern- 
ment, after  the  peace  of  Paris,^  prohibiting  any  intercourse  with 
the  rebels  of  Corsica.  Paoli  said,  he  did  not  expect  this  from 
Great  Britain.  This  great  man  was  deservedly  proud  of  his 
country.     "I  defy  Rome,  Sparta,  or  Thebes,"  he  would  say, 

1  Peace  of  Paris.  —  Concluded  in  1783  between  France,  England,  Spain, 
and  Portugal. 


46  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

"  to  show  me  thirty  years  of  such  patriotism  as  Corsica  can 
boast !  "  Availing  himself  of  the  respite  which  the  inactivity  of 
the  French  and  the  weakness  of  the  Genoese  allowed,  he  prose- 
cuted his  plans  of  civilizing  the  people.  He  used  to  say  that, 
though  he  had  an  unspeakable  pride  in  the  prospect  of  the 
fame  to  which  he  aspired,  yet,  if  he  could  but  render  his 
countrymen  happy,  he  would  be  content  to  be  forgotten.  His 
own  importance  he  never  affected  to  undervalue.  "  We  are 
now  to  our  country,"  said  he,  "  like  the  prophet  Elisha^  stretched 
over  the  dead  body  of  the  Shunamite  —  eye  to  eye,  nose  to  nose, 
mouth  to  mouth.  It  begins  to  recover  warmth  and  to  revive : 
I  hope  it  will  yet  regain  full  health  and  vigor." 

But  when  the  four  years  were  expired  France  purchased  the 
sovereignty  of  Corsica  from  the  Genoese  for  forty  millions  of 
livres,  as  if  the  Genoese  had  been  entitled  to  sell  it,  —  as  if  any 
bargain  or  sale  could  justify  one  country  in  taking  possession 
of  another  against  the  will  of  the  inhabitants,  and  butchering 
all  who  oppose  the  usurpation.  Among  the  enormities  which 
France  has  committed,  this  action  seems  but  as  a  speck ;  yet 
the  foulest  murderer  that  ever  suffered  by  the  hands  of  the 
executioner  has  infinitely  less  guilt  upon  his  soul  than  the 
statesman  who  concluded  this  treaty,  and  the  monarch  who 
sanctioned  and  confirmed  it.  A  desperate  and  glorious  resist- 
ance was  made,  but  it  was  in  vain ;  no  power  interposed  in 
behalf  of  these  injured  islanders,  and  the  French  poured  in  as 
many  troops  as  were  required.  They  offered  to  confirm  Paoli 
in  the  supreme  authority,  only  on  condition  that  he  would 
hold  it  under  their  government.  His  answer  was,  "  that  the 
rocks  which  surrounded  him  should  melt  away  before  he  would 
betray  a  cause  which  he  held  in  common  with  the  poorest 
Corsican."  This  people  then  set  a  price  upon  his  head. 
During  two  campaigns  he  kept  them  at  bay ;  they  overpowered 
him  at  length ;  he  was  driven  to  the  shore,  and  having  escaped 

^  Prophet  Elisha.  —  See  2  Kings  iv.  34. 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  47 

on  shipboard,  took  refuge  in  England.  It  is  said  that  Lord 
Shelburne  resigned  his  seat  in  the  cabinet  because  the  ministry 
looked  on  without  attempting  to  prevent  France  from  succeed- 
ing in  this  abominable  and  important  act  of  aggrandizement. 
In  one  respect,  however,  our  country  acted  as  became  her.  Paoli 
was  welcomed  with  the  honors  which  he  deserved;  a  pension  of 
;^i2oo  per  annum  was  immediately  granted  him,  and  provision 
was  liberally  made  for  his  elder  brother  and  his  nephew.  ^ 

Above  twenty  years  Paoli  remained  in  England,  enjoying 
the  friendship  of  the  wise  and  the  admiration  of  the  good. 
But  when  the  French  Revolution  began  it  seemed  as  if  the 
restoration  of  Corsica  was  at  hand.  The  whole  country,  as  if 
animated  by  one  spirit,  rose  and  demanded  liberty ;  and  the 
National  Assembly  passed  a  decree  recognizing  the  island  as  a 
Department  of  France,  and  therefore  entitled  to  all  the  privi- 
leges of  the  new  French  constitution.  This  satisfied  the 
Corsicans,  which  it  ought  not  to  haye  done ;  and  Paoli,  in 
whom  the  ardor  of  youth  was  passed,  seeing  that  his  country- 
men were  contented,  and  believing  that  they  were  about  to 
enjoy  a  state  of  freedom,  naturally  wished  to  return  to  his 
native  country.  He  resigned  his  pension  in  the  year  1790,  and 
appeared  at  the  bar  of  the  Assembly  with  the  Corsican  deputies 
when  they  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  France.  But  the  course 
of  events  in  France  soon  dispelled  those  hopes  of  a  new  and 
better  order  of  things  which  Paoli,  in  common  with  so  many 
of  the  friends  of  humankind,  had  indulged;  and  perceiving, 
after  the  execution  of  the  king,  that  a  civil  war  was  about  to 
ensue,  of  which  no  man  could  foresee  the  issue,  he  prepared  to 
break  the  connection  between  Corsica  and  the  French  Republic. 
The  Convention,  suspecting  such  a  design,  and  perhaps  occasion- 
ing it  by  their  suspicions,  ordered  him  to  their  bar.  That  way, 
he  well  knew,  led  to  the  guillotine ;  and,  returning  a  respectful 
answer,  he  declared  that  he  would  never  be  found  wanting  in 
his  duty,  but  pleaded  age  and  infirmity  as  a  reason  for  disobey- 


48  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

ing  the  summons.     Their  second  order  was   more  summary, 

and  the  French  troops  who  were  in  Corsica,  aided  by  those  of 

the  natives   who  were  either  influenced  by  hereditary  party 

feelings  or  who  were  sincere  in  Jacobinism/  took  the  field 

against  him.     But  the  people  were  with  him.     He  repaired  to 

Corte,  the  capital  of  the  island,  and  was  again  invested  with 

the  authority  which  he  had  held  in  the  noonday  of  his  fame. 

i'  The  Convention  upon  this  denounced  him  as  a  rebel,  and  set  a 

-^^\    price  upon  his  head.    It  was  not  the  first  time  that  France  had 

w^proscribed  Paoli. 

\^  Paoli  now  opened  a  correspondence  with  Lord  Hood,  prom- 
ising,  if  the  English  would  make  an  attack  upon '  St.  Fiorenzo 
from  the  sea,  he  would  at  the  same  time  attack  it  by  land. 
This  promise  he  was  unable  to  perform,  and  Commodore 
Linzee,  who,  in  reliance  upon  it,  was  sent  upon  this  service,  was 
repulsed  with  some  loss.  Lord  Hood,  who  had  now  been  com- 
pelled to  evacuate  Toulon,  suspected  Paoli  of  intentionally  de- 
ceiving him.  This  was  an  injurious  suspicion.  Shortly  after- 
wards he  dispatched  Lieutenant-Colonel  (afterwards  Sir  John) 
Moore  ^  and  Major  Koehler  to  confer  with  him  upon  a  plan  of 
operations.  Sir  Gilbert  Elliott  accompanied  them  *  and  it  was 
agreed  upon  that,  in  consideration  of  the  succors,  both  mili- 
tary and  naval,  which  his  Britannic  Majesty  should  afford  for  the 
purpose  of  expelling  the  French,  the  island  of  Corsica  should 
be  delivered  into  the  immediate  possession  of  his  Majesty,  and 
bind  itself  to  acquiesce  in  any  settlement  he  might  approve  of 
concerning  its  government  and  its  future  relation  with  Great 

^  Jacobinism.  —  The  extreme  democratic  or  revolutionary  principles 
as  exemplified  by  Mirabeau,  Danton,  and  their  followers.  This  "  club  " 
used  to  meet  in  an  old  convent  of  the  Jacobins,  or  Dominicans.  Hence 
the  name  Jacobin. 

2  Sir  John  Moore.  —  The  reader  will  recall  the  familiar  lines, "  Not  a 
drum  was  heard,  not  a  funeral  note,"  etc.,  written  in  commemoration  of 
this  hero's  death  in  1809. 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  49 

Britain.  While  this  negotiation  was  going  on  Nelson  cruised 
off  the  island  with  a  small  squadron,  to  prevent  the  enemy 
from  throwing  in  supplies.  Close  to  St.  Fiorenzo  the  French 
had  a  storehouse  of  flour,  near  their  only  mill:  he  watched  an 
opportunity,  and  landed  120  men,  who  threw  the  flour  into  the 
sea,  burnt  the  mill,  and  reembarked  before  1000  men  who  were 
sent  against  him  could  occasion  him  the  loss  of  a  single  man. 

While  he  exerted  himself  thus,  keeping  out  all  supplies,  in- 
tercepting dispatches,  attacking  their  outposts  and  forts,  and 
cutting  out  vessels  from  the  bay,  —  a  species  of  warfare  which 
depresses  the  spirits  of  an  enemy  even  more  than  it  injures 
them,  because  of  the  sense  of  individual  superiority  which  it  in- 
dicates in  the  assailants,  — troops  were  landed,  and  St.  Fiorenzo 
was  besieged.  The  French  finding  themselves  unable  to  main- 
tain that  post,  sunk  one  of  their  frigates,  burnt  another,  and 
retreated  to  Bastia.  Lord  Hood  submitted  to  General  Dundas, 
who  commanded  the  land  forces,  a  plan  for  the  reduction  of 
this  place :  the  general  declined  cooperating,  thinking  the 
attempt  impracticable  without  a  reinforcement  of  2000  men 
which  he  expected  from  Gibraltar.  Upon  this  Lord  Hood  de- 
termined to  reduce  it  with  the  naval  force  under  his  command, 
and  leaving  part  of  his  fleet  off  Toulon,  he  came  with  the  rest 
to  Bastia. 

He  showed  a  proper  sense  of  respect  for  Nelson's  services, 
and  of  confidence  in  his  talents,  by  taking  care  not  to  bring 
with  him  any  older  captain.  A  few  days  before  their  arrival 
Nelson  had  what  he  called  a  brush  with  the  enemy.  "  If  I  had 
with  me  five  hundred  troops,''  he  said,  *'  to  a  certainty  I  should 
have  stormed  the  town,  and  I  believe  it  might  have  been  carried. 
Armies  go  so  slow  that  seamen  think  they  never  mean  to  get 
forward  ;  but  I  daresay  they  act  on  a  surer  principle,  although 
we  seldom  fail."  During  this  partial  action  our  army  appeared 
upon  the  heights,  and  having  reconnoitred  the  place,  returned 
to  St.  Fiorenzo.     "What  the  general  could  have  seen  to  make 


50  SOUTHEY^S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

a  retreat  necessary,"  said  Nelson,  "  I  cannot  comprehend.  A 
thousand  men  would  certainly  take  Bastia ;  with  five  hundred 
and  Agamemnon  I  would  attempt  it.  My  seamen  are  now  what 
British  seamen  ought  to  be  —  almost  invincible.  They  really 
mind  shot  no  more  than  peas." 

General  Dundas  had  not  the  same  confidence.  "  After 
mature  consideration,"  said  he  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Hood,  ^*  and 
a  personal  inspection  for  several  days  of  all  circumstances, 
local  as  well  as  others,  I  consider  the  siege  of  Bastia,  with  our 
present  means  and  force,  to  be  a  most  visionary  and  rash 
attempt,  such  as  no  officer  would  be  justified  in  undertaking." 
Lord  Hood  replied,  that  nothing  would  be  more  gratifying  to 
his  feelings  than  to  have  the  whole  responsibility  upon  himself, 
and  that  he  was  ready  and  willing  to  undertake  the  reduction 
of  the  place  at  his  own  risk,  with  the  force  and  means  at 
present  there.  General  d'Aubant,  who  succeeded  at  this  time 
to  the  command  of  the  army,  coincided  in  opinion  with  his 
predecessor,  and  did  not  think  it  right  to  furnish  his  lordship 
with  a  single  soldier,  cannon,  or  any  stores.  Lord  Hood  could 
only  obtain  a  few  artillerymen,  and  ordering  on  board  that  part 
of  the  ■  troops  who,  having  been  embarked  as  marines,  were 
borne  on  the  ship's  books  as  part  of  their  respective  comple- 
ments, he  began  the  siege  with  1183  soldiers,  artillerymen,  and 
marines,  and  250  sailors.  "We  are  but  few,"  said  Nelson, 
"  but  of  the  right  sort ;  our  general  at  St.  Fiorenzo  not  giving 
us  one  of  the  five  regiments  he  has  there  lying  idle." 

These  men  were  landed  on  the  4th  of  April  under  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Villettes  and  Nelson,  who  had  now  acquired  from  the 
army  the  title  of  brigadier.  Guns  were  dragged  by  the  sailors 
up  heights  where  it  appeared  almost  impossible  to  convey 
them,  —  a  work  of  the  greatest  difficulty,  and  which  Nelson 
said  could  never,  in  his  opinion,  have  been  accomplished  by 
any  but  British  seamen.  The  soldiers,  though  less  dexterous 
in  such  service,  because  not  accustomed  like  sailors  to  habitual 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  ^I 

dexterity,  behaved  with  equal  spirit.  "  Their  zeal,"  said  the 
brigadier,  "  is  almost  unexampled.  There  is  not  a  man  but 
considers  himself  as  personally  interested  in  the  event,  and 
deserted  by  the  general.  It  has,  I  am  persuaded,  made  them 
equal  to  double  their  numbers."  This  is  one  proof  of  many 
that  for  our  soldiers  to  equal  our  seamen  it  is  only  necessary 
for  them  to  be  equally  well  commanded.  They  have  the  same 
heart  and  soul,  as  well  as  the  same  flesh  and  blood.  Too 
much  may  indeed  be  exacted  from  them  in  a  retreat ;  but  set 
their  face  toward  a  foe,  and  there  is  nothing  within  the  reach 
of  human  achievement  which  they  cannot  perform. 

The  French  had  improved  the  leisure  which  our  military 
commander  had  allowed  them,  and  before  Lord  Hood  com- 
menced his  operations,  he  had  the  mortification  of  seeing  that 
the  enemy  were  every  day  erecting  new  works,  strengthening 
old  ones,  and  rendering  the  attempt  more  difficult.  La  Combe 
St.  Michel,  the  commissioner  from  the  National  Convention, 
who  was  in  the  city,  replied  in  these  terms  to  the  summons  of 
the  British  admiral :  "  I  have  hot  shot  for  your  ships  and 
bayonets  for  your  troops.  When  two-thirds  of  our  men  are 
killed,  I  will  then  trust  to  the  generosity  of  the  English."  The 
siege,  however,  was  not  sustained  with  the  firmness  which  such 
a  reply  seemed  to  augur.  On  the  19th  of  May  a  treaty  of 
capitulation  was  begun  ;  that  same  evening  the  troops  from 
St.  Fiorenzo  made  their  appearance  on  the  hills  ;  and  on  the 
following  morning  General  d'Aubant  arrived  with  the  whole 
army  to  take  possession  of  Bastia. 

The  eyent  of  the  siege  justified  the  confidence  of  the  sailors, 
but  they  themselves  excused  the  opinion  of  the  generals  when 
they  saw  what  they  had  done.  ''  I  am  all  astonishment,"  said 
Nelson,  **when  I  reflect  upon  what  we  have  achieved:  1000 
regulars,  1500  National  Guards,  and  a  large  party  of  Corsican 
troops  —  4000  in  all  —  laying  down  their  arms  to  1200  soldiers, 
marines,  and  seamen  !  " 


52  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

The  Agamemnon  was  now  dispatched  to  cooperate  at  the 
siege  of  Calvi  with  General  Sir  Charles  Stuart,  an  officer  who, 
unfortunately  for  his  country,  never  had  an  adequate  field 
allotted  him  for  the  display  of  those  eminent  talents  which 
were,  to  all  who  knew  him,  so  conspicuous.  Nelson  had  less 
responsibility  here  than  at  Bastia,  and  was  acting  with  a  man 
after  his  own  heart,  who  was  never  sparing  of  himself,  and 
slept  every  night  in  the  advanced  battery.  But  the  service  was 
not  less  hard  than  that  of  the  former  siege.  "We  will  fag 
ourselves  to  death,"  said  he  to  Lord  Hood,  "before  any  blame 
shall  lie  at  our  doors.  I  trust  it  will  not  be  forgotten  that 
twenty-five  pieces  of  heavy  ordnance  have  been  dragged  to  the 
different  batteries,  mounted,  and  all  but  three  fought  by  seamen, 
except  one  artilleryman  to  point  the  guns.''  The  climate  proved 
more  destructive  than  the  service,  for  this  was  during  the 
period  of  the  "lion  sun,"  as  they  there  call  our  season  of 
"dog  days."  Of  2000  men,  above  half  were  sick,  and  the  rest 
like  so  many  phantoms.  Nelson  described  himself  as  the  reed 
among  the  oaks,  bowing  before  the  storm  when  they  were  laid 
low  by  it.  "  All  the  prevailing-  disorders  have  attacked  me," 
said  he,  "  but  I  have  not  strength  enough  for  them  to  fasten 
on."  The  loss  from  the  enemy  was  not  great,  but  Nelson 
received  a  serious  injury :  a  shot  struck  the  ground  near  him, 
and  drove  the  sand  and  small  gravel  into  one  of  his  eyes.^    He 

^  One  of  his  eyes.  — "  It  is  well  known  that  the  great  Lord  Nelson  lost 
the  sight  of  one  eye  at  the  siege  of  Calvi,  and  never  having  seen  an  accurate 
account  of  the  particulars,  I  have  taken  pains  to  ascertain  them.  In  a 
letter  to  his  wife  (August  18,  1794)  Nelson  states :  'A  shot  having  hit  our 
battery,  the  splinters  and  stones  from  it  struck  me  with  great  violence  on 
the  face  and  breast.  Although  the  blow  was  so  severe  as  to  occasion  a 
great  flow  of  blood  from  my  head,  yet  I  most  fortunately  escaped,  having 
only  my  right  eye  nearly  deprived  of  sight.  It  was  cut  down,  but  is  so  far 
recovered  as  for  me  to  be  able  to  distinguish  light  from  darkness.  As  to 
all  purposes  of  use  it  is  gone.  However,  the  blemish  isjiothing,  — not  to  be 
perceived  unless  told.     The  pupil  is  nearly  the  size  of  the  blue  part;  I  don't 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  53 

spoke  of  it  slightly  at  the  time :  writing  the  same  day  to  Lord 
Hood,  he  only  said  that  he  got  a  little  hurt  that  morning,  not 
much ;  and  the  next  day  he  said  he  should  be  able  to  attend 
his  duty  in  the  evening.  In  fact,  he  suffered  it  to  confine  him 
only  one  day ;  but  the  sight  was  lost. 

After  the  fall  of  Calvi,  his  services  were,  by  a  strange  omis- 
sion, altogether  overlooked,  and  his  name  was  not  even  men- 
tioned in  the  list  of  wounded.  This  was  noways  imputable 
to  the  admiral,  for  he  sent  home  to  Government  Nelson's 
journal  of  the  siege,  that  they  might  fully  understand  the 
nature  of  his  indefatigable  and  unequaled  exertions.  If  those 
exertions  were  not  rewarded  in  the  conspicuous  manner  which 
they  deserved,  the  fault  was  in  the  Administration  of  the  day, 
not  in  Lord  Hood.     Nelson  felt  himself  neglected. 

The  affairs  of  the  Mediterranean  wore  at  this  time  a  gloomy 
aspect.  The  arts  as  well  as  the  arms  of  the  enemy  were  gaining 
the  ascendency  there.  Tuscany  concluded  peace,  relying  upon 
the  faith  of  France,  which  was,  in  fact,  placing  itself  at  her 
mercy.     Corsica  was  in  danger. 

We  had  taken  that  island  for  ourselves,  annexed  it  formally 
to  the  crown  of  Great  Britain,  and  given  it  a  constitution  as 
free  as  our  own.  This  was  done  with  the  consent  of  the 
majority  of  the  inhabitants,  and  no  transaction  between  two 
countries  was  ever  more  fairly  or  legitimately  conducted ;  yet 
our  conduct  was  unwise.  The  island  is  large  enough  to  form 
an  independent  state,  and  such  we  should  have  made  it,  under 
our  protection  as  long  as  protection  might  be  needed.  The 
Corsicans  would  then  have  felt  as  a  nation,  but  when  one  party 
Iiad  given  up  the  country  to  England,  the  natural  consequence 
was  that  the  other  looked  to  France.  The  question  proposed 
to  the  people  was,  to  which  would  they  belong  ?     Our  language 

know  the  name.'  The  immediate  effect  of  the  injury  was  only  to  confine 
Nelson  from  duty  one  day,  but  he  appears  to  have  suffered  a  good  deal 
subsequently."  — Cooper's  Wounds  and  Injuries  of  the  Eye. 


54  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

was  against  us ;  our  unaccommodating  manners,  it  is  to  be 
feared,  still  more  so.  The  French  were  better  politicians.  In 
intrigue  they  have  ever  been  unrivaled ;  and  it  now  became 
apparent  that,  in  spite  of  all  wrongs,  which  ought  never  to  have 
been  forgotten  or  forgiven,  their  partisans  were  daily  acquiring 
strength.  It  is  part  of  the  policy  of  France  —  and  a  wise 
policy  it  is  —  to  impress  upon  other  Powers  the  opinion  of  its 
strength  by  lofty  language,  and  by  threatening  before  it  strikes, 
—  a  system  which,  while  it  keeps  up  the  spirit  of  its  allies,  and 
perpetually  stimulates  their  hopes,  tends  also  to  dismay  its 
enemies.  Corsica  was  now  loudly  threatened.  The  French, 
who  had  not  yet  been  taught  to  feel  their  own  inferiority  upon 
the  seas,  braved  us  in  contempt  upon  that  element.  They  had 
a  superior  fleet  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  they  sent  it  out  with 
express  orders  to  seek  the  English  and  engage  them.  Accord- 
ingly, the  Toulon  fleet,  consisting  of  seventeen  ships  of  the  line, 
and  five  smaller  vessels,  put  to  sea.  Admiral  Hotham  received 
this  information  at  Leghorn,  and  sailed  immediately  in  search 
of  them.  He  had  with  him  fourteen  sail  of  the  line  and  one 
Neapolitan  seventy-four,  but  his  ships  were  only  half  manned, 
containing  but  7,650  men,  whereas  the  enemy  had  16,900.  He 
soon  came  in  sight  of  them ;  a  general  action  was  expected ; 
and  Nelson,  as  was  his  custom  on  such  occasions,  wrote  a 
hasty  letter  to  his  wife,  as  that  which  might  possibly  contain 
his  last  farewell.  "  The  lives  of  all,''  said  he,  "  are  in  the 
hands  of  Him  who  knows  best  whether  to  preserve  mine  or 
not ;  my  character  and  good  name  are  in  my  own  keeping." 

But  however  confident  the  French  government  might  be  of 
their  naval  superiority,  the  officers  had  no  such  feeling ;  and 
after  manoeuvring  for  a  day  in  sight  of  the  English  fleet,  they 
suffered  themselves  to  be  chased.  One  of  their  ships,  the  Qa 
Ira,  of  eighty-four  guns,  carried  away  her  main  and  fore-top- 
masts. The  Inconstant,  frigate,  fired  at  a  disabled  ship,  but 
received  so  many  shot  that  she  was  obliged  to  leave   her. 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  55 

Soon  afterwards  a  French  frigate  took  the  Qa  Ira  in  tow ;  and 
the  Sans-Culottes^  one  hundred  and  twenty,  and  the  Jean  B arras, 
seventy-four,  kept  about  gunshot  distance  on  her  weather  bow. 
The  Agamemnon  stood  towards  her,  having  no  ship  of  the  Hne 
to  support  her  within  several  miles.  As  she  drew  near,  the 
Qa  Ira  fired  her  stern  guns  so  truly  that  not  a  shot  missed 
some  part  of  the  ship,  and  latterly  the  masts  were  struck  by 
every  shot.  It  had  been  Nelson's  intention  not  to  fire  before 
he  touched  her  stern;  but  seeing  how  impossible  it  was  he 
should  be  supported,  and  how  certainly  the  Agamemnon  must 
be  severely  cut  up  if  her  masts  were  disabled,  he  altered  his 
plan  according  to  the  occasion.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  he  was 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  her  stern,  he  ordered  the  helm  to  be 
put  a-starboard,  and  the  driver  and  after-sails  to  be  brailed  up 
and  shivered ;  and  as  the  ship  fell  off,  gave  the  enemy  her 
whole  broadside.  They  instantly  braced  up  the  after-yards, 
put  the  helm  a-port,  and  stood  after  her  again.  This  manoeuvre 
he  practiced  for  two  hours  and  a  quarter,  never  allowing  the 
Qa  Ira  to  get  a  single  gun  from  either  side  to  bear  on  him  ; 
and  when  the  French  fired  their  after-guns  now,  it  -was  no 
longer  with  coolness  and  precision,  for  every  shot  went  far 
ahead.  By  this  time  her  sails  were  hanging  in  tatters,  her 
mizzen-topmast,  mizzen-topsail,  and  cross- jackyards  shot  away. 
But  the  frigate  which  had  her  in  tow  hove  in  stays,  and  got 
her  round.  Both  these  French  ships  now  brought  their  guns 
to  bear,  and  opened  their  fire.  The  Aga77iemnon  passed  them 
within  half  pistol-shot  ;  almost  every  shot  passed  over  her,  for 
the  French  had  elevated  their  guns  for  the  rigging  and  for 
distant  firing,  and  did  not  think  of  altering  the  elevation.  As 
soon  as  the  Agamemnon^ s  after-guns  ceased  to  bear,  she  hove 
in  stays,  keeping  a  constant  fire  as  she  came  round,  and  being 
worked,  said  Nelson,  with  as  much  exactness  as  if  she  had 
been  turning  into  Spithead.  On  getting  round  he  saw  that 
the  Sans-Cidottes,  which  had  wore  with  many  of  the  enemy's 


56  southey's  life  op  nelson. 

ships,  was  under  his  lee  bow,  and  standing  to  leeward.  The 
admiral  at  the  same  time  made  the  signal  for  the  van  ships  to 
join  him.  Upon  this  Nelson  bore  away  and  prepared  to  set  all 
sail,  and  the  enemy,  having  saved  their  ship,  hauled  close  to 
the  wind,  and  opened  upon  him  a  distant  and  ineffectual  fire. 
Only  seven  of  the  Agamemnon^ s  men  were  hurt  —  a  thing  which 
Nelson  himself  remarked  as  wonderful  ;  her  sails  and  rigging 
were  very  much  cut,  and  she  had  many  shots  in  her  hull,  and 
some  between  wind  and  water.  The  Qa  L-a  lost  no  men  that 
day,  and  was  so  cut  up  that  she  could  not  get  a  topmast  aloft 
during  the  night. 

At  daylight  on  the  following  morning  the  English  ships  were 
taken  aback  with  a  fine  breeze  at  N.W.,  while  the  enemy's  fleet 
kept  the  southerly  wind.  The  body  of  their  fleet  was  about 
five  miles  distant ;  the  Qa  Ira  and  the  Censeur,  seventy-four, 
which  had  her  in  tow,  about  three  and  a  half.  All  sail  was 
made  to  cut  these  ships  off,  and  as  the  French  attempted  to 
save  them,  a  partial  action  was  brought  on.  The  Agamemnon 
was  again  engaged  with  her  yesterday's  antagonist,  but  she  had 
to  fight  on  both  sides  the  ship  at  the  same  time.  The  Qa  Ira 
and  the  Censeur  fought  most  gallantly :  the  first  lost  nearly  300 
men  in  addition  to  her  former  loss  ;  the  last,  350.  Both  at 
last  struck,  and  Lieutenant  Andrews,  of  the  Agamemno?t,  — 
brother  to  a  lady  to  whom  Nelson  had  become  attached  in 
France,  and,  in  Nelson's  own  words,  "  as  gallant  an  officer  as 
ever  stepped  a  quarter-deck,"  —  hoisted  English  colors  on 
board  them  both. 

The  rest  of  the  enemy's  ships  behaved  very  ill.  As  soon  as 
these  vessels  had  struck.  Nelson  went  to  Admiral  Hotham,  and 
proposed  that  the  two  prizes  should  be  left  with  the  Illustrious 
and  Courageux^  which  had  been  crippled  in  the  action,  and  with 
four  frigates,  and  that  the  rest  of  the  fleet  should  pursue  the 
enemy,  and  follow  up  the  advantage  to  the  utmost.  .  But  his 
reply  was  :  "  We  must  be  contented  ;  we  have  done  very  well." 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  5/ 

—  "Now,"  said  Nelson,  "had  we  taken  ten  sail  and  allowed 
the  eleventh  to  escape,  when  it  had  been  possible  to  have  got 
at  her,  I  could  never  have  called  it  well  done.  Goodall  backed 
me :  I  got  him  to  write  to  the  admiral,  but  it  would  not  do. 
We  should  have  had  such  a  day  as,  I  believe,  the  annals  of 
England  never  produced."  In  this  letter  the  character  of 
Nelson  fully  manifests  itself.  "  I  wish,"  said  he  "  to  be  an 
admiral,  and  in  the  command  of  the  English  fleet :  I  should 
very  soon  either  do  much  or  be  ruined :  my  disposition  cannot 
bear  tame  and  slow  measures.  Sure  I  am,  had  I  commanded 
on  the*  14th,  that  either  the  whole  French  fleet  would  have 
graced  my  triumph,  or  I  should  have  been  in  a  confounded 
scrape."  What  the  event  would  have  been  he  knew  from  his 
prophetic  feelings  and  his  own  consciousness  of  power  ;  and  we 
also  know  it  now,  for  Aboukir  and  Trafalgar  have  told  it  us. 

About  this  time  Nelson  was  made  colonel  of  marines,  a 
mark  of  approbation  which  he  had  long  wished  for  rather  than 
expected.  It  came  in  good  season,  for  his  spirits  were  oppressed 
by  the  thought  that  his  services  had  not  been  acknowledged  as 
they  deserved. 

He  now  entered  upon  a  new  line  of  service.  The  Austrian 
and  Sardinian  armies,  under  General  de  Vins,  required  a 
British  squadron  to  cooperate  with  them  in  driving  the  French 
from  the  Riviera  di  Genoa,  and  as  Nelson  had  been  so  much 
in  the  habit  of  soldiering,  it  was  immediately  fixed  that  the 
brigadier  should  go.  He  sailed  from  St.  Fiorenzo  on  this 
destination,  but  fell  in,  off  Cape  del  Mele,  with  the  enemy's 
fleet,  who  immediately  gave  his  squadron  chase.  The  chase 
lasted  four-and-twenty  hours,  and  owing  to  the  fickleness  of 
the  wind  the  British  ships  were  somewhat  hard  pressed,  but 
the  want  of  skill  on  the  part  of  the  French  gave  them  many 
advantages.  Nelson  bent  his  way  back  to  St.  Fiorenzo,  where 
the  fleet,  which  was  in  the  midst  of  watering  and  refitting,  had, 
for  seven  hours  the  mortification  of  seeing  him  almost  in  pos- 


58  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

session  of  the  enemy  before  the  wind  would  allow  them  to  put 
out  to  his  assistance.  The  French,  however,  at  evening  went 
off,  not  choosing  to  approach  nearer  the  shore. 

During  the  night,  Admiral  Hotham,  by  great  exertions,  got 
under  way,  and  having  sought  the  enemy  four  days,  came  in 
sight  of  them  on  the  fifth.  Baffling  winds  and  vexatious  calms, 
so  common  in  the  Mediterranean,  rendered  it  impossible  to 
close  with  them  ;  only  a  partial  action  could  be  brought  on, 
and  then  the  firing  made  a  perfect  calm.  The  French  being 
to  windward,  drew  inshore  ;  and  the  English  fleet  was  becalmed 
six  or  seven  miles  to  the  westward.  L^Alcide,  of  sevehty-four 
guns,  struck ;  but  before  she  could  be  taken  possession  of,  a 
box  of  combustibles  in  her  fore-top  took  fire,  and  the  unhappy 
crew  experienced  how  far  more  perilous  their  inventions  were 
to  themselves  than  to  their  enemies.  So  rapid  was  the  con- 
flagration, that  the  P'rench  in  their  official  account  say  the  hull, 
the  masts,  and  sails  all  seemed  to  take  fire  at  the  same 
moment,  and  though  the  English  boats  were  put  out  to  the 
assistance  of  the  poor  wretches  on  board,  not  more  than  200 
could  be  saved.  The  Agamemnon,  and  Captain  Rowley  in  the 
Cumberla7td,  were  just  getting  into  close  action  a  second  time 
when  the  admiral  called  them  off,  the  wind  now  being  directly 
into  the  Gulf  of  Frejus,  where  the  enemy  anchored  after  the 
evening  closed. 

Nelson  now  proceeded  to  his  station  with  eight  sail  of 
frigates  under  his  command.  Arriving  at  Genoa,  he  had  a 
conference  with  Mr.  Drake,  the  British  envoy  to  that  State, 
the  result  of  which  was  that  the  object  of  the  British  must  be 
to  put  an  entire  stop  to  all  trade  between  Genoa,  France,  and 
the  places  occupied  by  the  French  troops ;  for  unless  this  trade 
was  stopped,  it  would  be  scarcely  possible  for  the  allied  armies 
to  hold  their  situation,  and  impossible  for  them  to  make  any 
progress  in  driving  the  enemy  out  of  the  Riviera  di  Genoa. 
Mr.  Drake  was  of  opinion  that  even  Nice  might  fall  for  want 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  59 

of  supplies  if  the  trade  with  Genoa  were  cut  off.  This  sort  of 
blockade  Nelson  could  not  carry  on  without  great  risk  to  him- 
self. A  captain  in  the  navy,  as  he  represented  to  the  envoy,  is 
liable  to  prosecution  for  detention  and  damages. 

When  Nelson  first  saw  General  de  Vins  he  thought  him  an 
able  man,  who  was  willing  to  act  with  vigor.  The  general 
charged  his  inactivity  upon  the  Piedmontese  and  Neapolitans, 
whom,  he  said,  nothing  could  induce  to  act ;  and  he  concerted 
a  plan  with  Nelson  for  embarking  a  part  of  the  Austrian  army, 
and  landing  it  in  the  rear  of  the  French.  But  the  English 
commodore  soon  began  to  suspect  that  the  Austrian  general 
was  little  disposed  to  any  active  operations.  In  the  hope  of 
spurring  him  on,  he  wrote  to  him,  telling  him  that  he  had 
surveyed  the  coast  to  the  westward  as  far  as  Nice,  and  would 
undertake  to  embark  four  or  five  thousand  men,  with  their 
arms  and  a  few  days'  provisions,  on  board  the  squadron,  and 
land  them  within  two  miles  of  St.  Remo,  with  their  field-pieces. 
Respecting  farther  provisions  for  the  Austrian  army,  he  would 
provide  convoys,  that  they  should  arrive  in  safety,  and  if  a 
reembarkation  should  be  found  necessary,  he  would  cover 
it  with  the  squadron.  The  possession  of  St.  Remo,  as  head- 
quarters for  magazines  of  every  kind,  would  enable  the 
Austrian  general  to  turn  his  army  to  the  eastward  or  west- 
ward. The  enemy  at  Oneglia  would  be  cut  off  from  provisions, 
and  men  could  be  landed  to  attack  that  place  whenever  it  was 
judged  necessary. 

St.  Remo  was  the  only  place  between  Vado  and  Ville  Franche 
where  the  squadron  could  lie  in  safety,  and  anchor  in  almost 
all  winds.  The  bay  was  not  so  good  as  Vado  for  large  ships, 
but  it  had  a  mole,  which  Vado  had  not,  where  all  small  vessels 
could  He,  and  load  and  unload  their  cargoes.  This  bay  being 
in  possession  of  the  allies,  Nice  could  be  completely  blockaded 
by  sea.  General  de  Vins,  affecting  in  his  reply  to  consider 
that  Nelson's  proposal  had  no  other  end  than  that  of  obtaining 


6o  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

the  bay  of  St.  Remo  as  a  station  for  the  ships,  told  him,  what 
he  well  knew  and  had  expressed  before,  that  Vado  Bay  was  a 
better  anchorage  ;  nevertheless,  if  ''  Monsieur  le  Commandant 
Nelson  "  was  well  assured  that  part  of  the  fleet  could  winter 
there,  there  was  no  risk  to  which  he  would  not  expose  himself 
with  pleasure  for  the  sake  of  procuring  a  safe  station  for  the 
vessels  of  his  Britannic  Majesty.  Nelson  soon  assured  the 
Austrian  commander  that  this  was  not  the  object  of  his 
memorial.  He  now  began  to  suspect  that  both  the  Austrian 
Court  and  their  general  had  other  ends  in  view  than  the  cause 
of  the  allies. 

"This  army,"  said  he,  "is  slow  beyond  all  description,  and 
I  begin  to  think  that  the  Emperor  is  anxious  to  touch  another 
four  millions  of  English  money.  As  for  the  German  generals, 
war  is  their  trade,  and  peace  is  ruin  to  them  ;  therefore  we 
cannot  expect  that  they  should  have  any  wish  to  finish  the 
war.  The  politics  of  courts  are  so  mean  that  private  people 
would  be  ashamed  to  act  in  the  same  way :  all  is  trick  and 
finesse,  to  which  the  common  cause  is  sacrificed.  The  general 
wants  a  loophole  ;  it  has  for  some  time  appeared  to  me  that  he 
means  to  go  no  farther  than  his  present  position,  and  to  lay  the 
miscarriage  of  the  enterprise  against  Nice,  which  has  always 
been  held  out  as  the  great  object  of  his  army,  to  the  non- 
cooperation  of  the  British  fleet  and  of  the  Sardinians." 

To  prevent  this  plea,  Nelson  again  addressed  De  Vins, 
requesting  only  to  know  the  time,  and  the  number  of  troops 
ready  to  embark ;  then  he  would,  he  said,  dispatch  a  ship  to 
Admiral  Hotham,  requesting  transports,  having  no  doubt  of 
obtaining  them,  and  trusting  that  the  plan  would  be  successful 
to  its  fullest  extent.  Nelson  thought  at  the  time  that  if  the 
whole  fleet  were  offered  him  for  transports  he  would  find  some 
other  excuse,  and  Mr.  Drake,  who  was  now  appointed  to  reside 
at  the  Austrian  headquarters,  entertained  the  same  idea  of  the 
general's  sincerity.^     It  was  not,  however,  put  so  clearly  to  the 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  6 1 

proof  as  it  ought  to  have  been.  He  replied  that  as  soon  as 
Nelson  could  declare  himself  ready  with  the  vessels  necessary 
for  conveying  10,000  men,  with  their  artillery  and  baggage,  he 
would  put  the  army  in  motion.  But  Nelson  was  not  enabled 
to  do  this.  Admiral  Hotham,  who  was  highly  meritorious  in 
leaving  such  a  man  so  much  at  his  own  discretion,  pursued  a 
cautious  system,  ill  according  with  the  bold  and  comprehen- 
sive views  of  Nelson,  who  continually  regretted  Lord  Hood, 
saying  that  the  nation  had  suffered  much  by  his  resignation  of 
the  Mediterranean  command.  The  plan  which  had  been  con- 
certed, he  said,  would  astonish  the  French,  and  perhaps  the 
English. 

There  was  no  unity  in  the  views  of  the  allied  powers,  no 
cordiality  in  their  cooperation,  no  energy  in  their  councils. 
The  neutral  powers  assisted  France  more  effectually  than  the 
allies  assisted  each  other.  The  Genoese  ports  were  at  this  time 
filled  with  French  privateers,  which  swarmed  out  every  night 
and  covered  the  gulf  ;  and  French  vessels  were  allowed  to  tow 
out  of  the  port  of  Genoa  itself,  board  vessels  which  were  coming 
in,  and  then  return  into  the  mole.  This  was  allowed  without 
a  remonstrance,  while,  though  Nelson  abstained  most  carefully 
from  offering  any  offense  to  the  Genoese  territory  or  flag, 
complaints  were  so  repeatedly  made  against  his  squadron, 
that,  he  says,  it  seemed  a  trial  who  should  be  tired  first,  they 
of  complaining,  or  he  of  answering  their  complaints. 

But  the  question  of  neutrality  was  soon  at  an  end.  An 
Austrian  commissary  was  traveling  from  Genoa  towards  Vado  ; 
it  was  known  that  he  was  to  sleep  at  Voltri,  and  that  he  had 
^10,000  with  him  —  a  booty  which  the  French  minister  in  that 
city,  and  a  captain  of  a  French  frigate  in  that  port,  considered 
as  far  more  important  than  the  word  of  honor  of  the  one,  the 
duties  of  the  other,  and  the  laws  of  neutrality.  The  boats  of 
the  frigate  went  out  with  some  privateers,  landed,  robbed  the 
commissary,  and  brought  back  the  money  to  Genoa.     The  next 


62  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

day  men  were  publicly  enlisted  in  that  city  for  the  French 
army;  700  men  were  embarked,  with  7000  stands  of  arms,  on 
board  the  frigates  and  other  vessels,  who  were  to  land  between 
Voltri  and  Savona.  There  a  detachment  from  the  French 
army  was  to  join  them,  and  the  Genoese  peasantry  were  to  be 
invited  to  insurrection  —  a  measure  for  which  everything  had 
been  prepared.  The  night  of  the  13th  was  fixed  for  the  sailing 
of  this  expedition  ;  the  Austrians  called  loudly  for  Nelson  to 
prevent  it ;  and  he,  on  the  evening  of  the  13th,  arrived  at 
Genoa.  His  presence  checked  the  plan  :  the  frigate,  knowing 
her  deserts,  got  within  the  merchant  ships  in  the  inner  mole, 
and  the  Genoese  government  did  not  now  even  demand  of 
Nelson  repect  to  the  neutral  port,  knowing  that  they  had 
allowed,  if  not  connived  at,  a  flagrant  breach  of  neutrality,  and 
expecting  the  answer  which  he  was  prepared  to  return,  that  it 
was  useless  and  impossible  for  him  to  respect  it  longer. 

But  though  this  movement  produced  the  immediate  effect 
which  was  designed,  it  led  to  ill  consequences  which  Nelson 
foresaw,  but  for  want  of  sufficient  force  was  unable  to  prevent. 
His  squadron  was  too  small  for  the  service  which  it  had  to 
perform.  He  required  two  seventy-fours  and  eight  or  ten 
frigates  and  sloops  ;  but  when  he  demanded  this  reinforcement. 
Admiral  Hotham  had  left  the  command.  Sir  Hyde  Parker 
succeeded  till  the  new  commander  should  arrive,  and  he 
immediately  reduced  it  almost  to  nothing,  leaving  him  only 
one  frigate  and  a  brig.  This  was  a  fatal  error.  While  the 
Austrian  and  Sardinian  troops,  whether  from  the  imbecility  or 
the  treachery  of  their  leaders,  remained  inactive,  the  French 
were  preparing  for  the  invasion  of  Italy.  Not  many  days 
before  Nelson  was  thus  summoned  to  Genoa  he  chased  a 
large  convoy  into  Alassio.  Twelve  vessels  he  had  formerly 
destroyed  in  that  port,  though  2000  French  troops  occupied  the 
town :  this  former  attack  had  made  them  take  new  measures 
of  defense,   and  there   were  now  above   one  hundred   sail   of 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  63 

^  victualers,  gunboats,  and  ships  of  war.  Nelson  represented 
to  the  admiral  how  important  it  was  to  destroy  these  vessels  • 
and  offered,  with  his  squadron  of  frigates  and  the  Cidloden  and 
Courageux,  to  lead  himself  in  the  Agamemnon,  and  take  or 
destroy  the  whole.  The  attempt  was  not  permitted,  but  it  was 
Nelson's  belief  that  if  it  had  been  made  it  would  have  prevented 
the  attack  upon  the  Austrian  army,  which  took  place  almost 
immediately  afterwards. 

General  de  Vins  demanded  satisfaction  of  the  Genoese 
government  for  the  seizure  of  his  commissary,  and  then, 
without  waiting  for  their  reply,  took  possession  of  some  empty 
magazines  of  the  French  and  pushed  his  sentinels  to  the  very 
gates  of  Genoa.  Had  he  done  so  at  first  he  would  have  found 
the  magazines  full ;  but,  timed  as  the  measure  was,  and  useless 
as  it  was  to  the  cause  of  the  allies,  it  was  in  character  with 
.  the  whole  of  the  Austrian  generaPs  conduct ;  and  it  is  no  small 
proof  of  the  dexterity  with  which  he  served  the  enemy,  that  in 
such  circumstances  he  could  so  act  with  Genoa  as  to  contrive 
to  put  himself  in  the  wrong.  Nelson  was  at  this  time,  accord- 
ing to  his  own  expression,  placed  in  a  cleft  stick.  Mr.  Drake, 
the  Austrian  minister,  and  the  Austrian  general  all  joined 
in  requiring  him  not  to  leave  Genoa.  If  he  left  that  port 
unguarded,  they  said,  not  only  the  imperial  troops  at  St.  Pier 
d' Arena  and  Voltri  would  be  lost,  but  the  French  plan  for 
taking  post  between  Voltri  and  Savona  would  certainly  suc- 
ceed ;  if  the  Austrians  should  be  worsted  in  the  advanced 
posts,  the  retreat  by  the  Bocchetta  would  be  cut  off,  and  if  this 
happened,  the  loss  of  the  army  would  be  imputed  to  him  for 
having  left  Genoa. 

On  the  other  hand,  he  knew  that  if  he  were  not  at  Pietra 
the  enemy's  gunboats  would  harass  the  left  flank  of  the  Aus- 
trians, who,  if  they  were  defeated,  as  was  to  be  expected  from 
the  spirit  of  all  their  operations,  would  very  probably  lay  their 
defeat  to  the  want  of  assistance  from  the  Agamemnon,     Had 


64  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

the  force  for  which  Nelson  applied  been  given  him,  he  could 
have  attended  to  both  objects  ;  and  had  he  been  permitted  to 
attack  the  convoy  in  Alassio  he  would  have  disconcerted  the 
plans  of  the  French  in  spite  of  the  Austrian  general.  He  had 
foreseen  the  danger  and  pointed  out  how  it  might  be  prevented, 
but  the  means  of  preventing  it  were  withheld.  The  attack  was 
made,  as  he  foresaw,  and  the  gunboats  brought  their  fire  to 
bear  upon  the  Austrians.  It  so  happened,  however,  that  the 
left  flank,  which  was  exposed  to  them,  was  the  only  part  of  the 
army  that  behaved  well.  This  division  stood  its  ground  till 
the  center  and  the  right  wing  fled,  and  then  retreated  in  a 
soldier-like  manner.  General  de  Vins  gave  up  the  command 
in  the  middle  of  the  battle,  pleading  ill  health. 

**  From  that  moment,"  says  Nelson,  "  not  a  soldier  stayed  at 
his  post.  Many  thousands  ran  away  who  had  never  seen  the 
enemy  ;  some  of  them  thirty  miles  from  the  advanced  posts. . 
Had  I  not  —  though  I  own  against  my  inclination  —  been  kept 
at  Genoa,  from  eight  to  ten  thousand  men  would  have  been 
taken  prisoners,  and  amongst  the  number  General  de  Vins 
himself ;  but  by  this  means  the  pass  of  Bocchetta  was  kept 
open.  The  purser  of  the  ship,  who  was  at  Vado,  ran  with  the 
Austrians  eighteen  miles  without  stopping :  the  men  without 
arms,  oflicers  without  soldiers,  women  without  assistance.  The 
oldest  officers  say  they  never  heard  of  so  complete  a  defeat, 
and  certainly  without  any  reason.  Thus  has  ended  my  cam- 
paign. We  have  established  the  French  Republic,  which  but 
for  us,  I  verily  believe,  would  never  have  been  settled  by  such 
a  volatile,  changeable  people." 

The  defeat  of  General  de  Vins  gave  the  enemy  possession  of 
the  Genoese  coast  from  Savona  to  Voltri,  and  it  deprived  the 
Austrians  of  their  direct  communication  with  the  English  fleet. 
The  Agamemnon^  therefore,  could  no  longer  be  useful  on  this 
station,  and  Nelson  sailed  for  Leghorn  to  refit.  When  his 
ship  went  into  dock  there  was  not  a  mast,  yard,  sail,  or  any 


FIRST    SERVICE    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  65 

part  of  the  rigging  but  what  stood  in  need  of  repair,  having 
been  cut  to  pieces  with  shot.  The  hull  was  so  damaged  that 
it  had  for  some  time  been  secured  by  cables,  which  were 
served  or  thrapped  ^  round  it.        ' 

^  Thrapped.  —  Probably  meant  for  "  frapped."  To  frap  a  vessel  is  to 
bind  cables  tightly  round  it  in  order  to  strengthen  it. 

The  subsequent  history  of  this  famous  old  naval  vessel  is  interesting  : 
"The  Agamemno7ty  or,  as  she  was  humorously  styled  by  the  seamen,  the 
'  Old  Eggs-and-Bacon,'  was  wrecked  when  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Rose  in  Maldonado  Bay,  in  the  river  Plate.  This  happened  on  the  20th  of 
June,  in  the  year  1809.  Many  of  Nelson's  hardy  tars  were  still  on  board 
of  her ;  and  I  well  remember  witnessing  the  distress  pictured  on  many  a 
furrowed  countenance,  as  they  were  compelled  to  quit  a  ship  so  powerfully 
endeared  to  them  by  old  associations.  The  address  of  Captain  Rose, 
previously  to  their  being  distributed  amongst  the  fleet  (under  Admiral 
Courcy),  drew  tears  from  many  an  eye  that  had  looked  undismayed  at 
danger,  even  when  death  appeared  inevitable."  —  The  Old  Sailor. 


W'^  'S 

r 


,^^^^ 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BATTLE  OFF  CAPE  ST.  VINCENT. 

SIR  JOHN  JERVIS  had  now  arrived  to  take  the  command 
of  the  Mediterranean  fleet.  The  Aga^nemnon  having,  as 
her  captain  said,  been  made  as  fit  for  sea  as  a  rotten  ship 
could  be.  Nelson  sailed  from  Leghorn,  and  joined  the  admiral 
in  Fiorenzo  Bay.  "  I  found  him,"  said  he,  "  anxious  to  know 
many  things,  which  I  was  a  good  deal  surprised  to  find  had 
not  been  communicated  to  him  by  others  in  the  fleet ;  and  it 
would  appear  that  he  was  so  well  satisfied  with  my  opinion 
of  what  is  likely  to  happen,  and  the  means  of  prevention  to  be 
taken,  that  he  had  no  reserve  with  me  respecting  his  informa- 
tion and  ideas  of  what  is  likely  to  be  done." 

The  manner  in  which  Nelson  was  received  is  said  to  have 
excited  some  envy.  One  captain  observed  to  him  :  ''  You  did 
just  as  you  pleased  in  Lord  Hood's  time,  the  same  in  Admiral 
Hotham's,  and  now  again  with  Sir  John  Jervis  :  it  makes  no 
difference  to  you  who  is  commander-in-chief."  A  higher 
compliment  could  not  have  been  paid  to  any  commander-in 
chief  than  to  say  of  him  that  he  understood  the  merits  of 
Nelson,  and  left  him,  as  far  as  possible,  to  act  upon  his  own 
judgment. 

Sir  John  Jervis  offered  him  the  St.  George^  ninety,  or  the 
Zealous^  seventy-four,  and  asked  if  he  should  have  any  objec- 
tion to  serve  under  him  with  his  flag.  He  replied,  that  if  the 
Agamemnon  were  ordered  home,  and  his  flag  were  not  arrived, 
he  should  on  many  accounts  wish  to  return  to  England  ;  still, 
if  the  war  continued,  he  should  be  very  proud  of  hoisting  his 
flag  under  Sir  John's  command.     "  We  cannot  spare  you,"  said 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.    VINCENT.  6/ 

Sir  John,  "either  as  captain  or  admiral."  Accordingly,  he 
resumed  his  station  in  the  Gulf  of  Genoa. 

General  Beaulieu,  who  had  now  superseded  de  Vins  in  the 
command  of  the  allied  Austrian  and  Sardinian  army,  sent  his 
nephew  and  aide-de-camp  to  communicate  with  Nelson,  and 
inquire  whether  he  could  anchor  in  any  other  place  than  Vado 
Bay.  Nelson  replied  that  Vado  was  the  only  place  where  the 
British  fleet  could  lie  in  safety,  but  all  places  would  suit  his 
squadron,  and  wherever  the  general  came  down  to  the  sea- 
coast  there  he  should  find  it.  The  Austrian  repeatedly  asked 
if  there  was  not  a  risk  of  losing  the  squadron,  and  was  con- 
stantly answered  that  if  these  ships  should  be  lost  the  admiral 
would  find  others.  But  all  plans  of  cooperation  with  the 
Austrians  were  soon  frustrated  by  the  battle  of  Montenotte. 
Beaulieu  ordered  an  attack  to  be  made  upon  the  post  of  Voltri ; 
it  was  made  twelve  hours  before  the  time  which  he  had  fixed, 
and  before  he  arrived  to  direct  it.  In  consequence,  the  French 
were  enabled  to  effect  their  retreat,  and  fall  back  to  Monte- 
notte, thus  giving  the  troops  there  a  decisive  superiority  in 
number  over  the  division  which  attacked  them.  This  drew  on 
the  defeat  of  the  Austrians.  Bonaparte,  with  a  celerity  which 
had  never  before  been  witnessed  in  modern  war,  pursued  his 
advantages,  and  in  the  course  of  a  fortnight  dictated  to  the 
Court  of  Turin  terms  of  peace,  or  rather  of  submission,  by 
which  all  the  strongest  places  of  Piedmont  were  put  into  his 
hands. 

On  one  occasion,  and  only  on  one.  Nelson  was  able  to 
impede  the  progress  of  this  new  conqueror.  Six  vessels,  laden 
with  cannon  and  ordnance  stores  for  the  siege  of  Mantua, 
sailed  from  Toulon  for  St.  Pier  d' Arena.  Assisted  by  Captain 
Cockburn  in  the  Meleager,  he  drove  them  under  a  battery, 
pursued  them,  silenced  the  batteries,  and  captured  the  whole. 
Military  books,  plans,  and  maps  of  Italy,  with  the  different 
points   marked    upon    them    where   former   battles    had   been 


68  SOUTHEY*S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

fought,  sent  by  the  Directory  for  Bonaparte's  use,  were  found 
in  the  convoy.  The  loss  of  this  artillery  was  one  of  the  chief 
causes  which  compelled  the  French  to  raise  the  siege  of 
Mantua  ;  but  there  was  too  much  treachery  and  too  much 
imbecility,  both  in  the  councils  and  armies  of  the  Allied 
Powers,  for  Austria  to  improve  this  momentary  success. 

Bonaparte  perceived  that  the  conquest  of  all  Italy  was  within 
his  reach;  treaties  and  rights  of  neutral  or  friendly  powers 
were  as  little  regarded  by  him  as  by  the  government  for  which 
he  acted.  In  open  contempt  of  both,  he  entered  Tuscany  and 
took  possession  of  Leghorn.  In  consequence  of  this  movement 
Nelson  blockaded  that  port,  and  landed  a  British  force  in  the 
isle  of  Elba,  to  secure  Porto  Ferrajo.  Soon  afterwards  he  took 
the  island  of  Capraja,  which  had  formerly  belonged  to  Corsica, 
being  less  than  forty  miles  distant  from  it;  a  distance,  however, 
short  as  it  was,  which  enabled  the  Genoese  to  retain  it,  after 
their  infamous  sale  of  Corsica  to  France. 

Genoa  had  now  taken  part  with  France  ;  its  government 
had  long  covertly  assisted  the  French,  and  now  willingly 
yielded  to  the  first  compulsory  menace  which  required  them 
to  exclude  the  English  from  their  ports.  Capraja  was  seized 
in  consequence,  but  this  act  of  vigor  was  not  followed  up  as 
it  ought  to  have  been.  England  at  that  time  depended  too 
much  upon  the  feeble  governments  of  the  Continent  and  too 
little  upon  itself.  It  was  determined  by  the  British  Cabinet 
to  evacuate  Corsica  as  soon  as  Spain  should  form  an  offensive 
alliance  with  France.  This  event,  which,  from  the  moment 
that  Spain  had  been  compelled  to  make  peace,  was  clearly 
foreseen,  had  now  taken  place,  and  orders  for  the  evacuation 
of  the  island  were  immediately  sent  out.  It  was  impolitic  to 
annex  this  island  to  the  British  dominions,  but  having  done  so, 
it  was  disgraceful  thus  to  abandon  it.  The  disgrace  would 
have  been  spared,  and  every  advantage  which  could  have  been 
derived  from  the  possession  of  the  island  secured,  if  the  people 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.    VINCENT.  69 

had  at  first  been  left  to  form  a  government  for  themselves,  and 
protected  by  us  in  the  enjoyment  of  their  independence. 

The  viceroy,  Sir  Gilbert  Elliott,  deeply  felt  the  impolicy  and 
ignominy  of  this  evacuation.  The  fleet  also  was  ordered  to 
leave  the  Mediterranean.  This  resolution  was  so  contrary  to 
the  last  instructions  which  had  been  received  that  Nelson 
exclaimed, "  Do  his  Majesty's  ministers  know  their  own  minds  ? 
They  at  home,"  said  he,  "  do  not  know  what  this  fleet  is  cap- 
able of  performing  —  anything  and  everything.  Much  as  I  shall 
rejoice  to  see  England,  I  lament  our  present  orders  in  sackcloth 
and  ashes,  so  dishonorable  to  the  dignity  of  England,  whose 
fleets  are  equal  to  meet  the  world  in  arms  ;  and  of  all  the  fleets 
I  ever  saw,  I  never  beheld  one  in  point  of  officers  and  men 
equal  to  Sir  John  Jervis's,  who  is  a  commander-in-chief  able 
to  lead  them  to  glory." 

Sir  Gilbert  Elliott  believed  that  the  great  body  of  the  Corsi- 
cans  were  perfectly  satisfied,  as  they  had  good  reason  to  be, 
with  the  British  government,  sensible  of  its  advantages,  and 
attached  to  it.  However  this  may  have  been,  when  they  found 
that  the  English  intended  to  evacuate  the  island,  they  naturally 
and  necessarily  sent  to  make  their  peace  with  the  French.  The 
partisans  of  France  found  none  to  oppose  them.  A  committee 
of  thirty  took  upon  them  the  government  of  Bastia,  and  seques- 
trated all  the  British  property:  armed  Corsicans  mounted  guard 
at  every  place,  and  a  plan  was  laid  for  seizing  the  viceroy. 
Nelson,  who  was  appointed  to  superintend  the  evacuation,  frus- 
trated these  projects.  At  a  time  when  every  one  else  despaired 
of  saving  stores,  cannon,  provisions,  or  property  of  any  kind, 
and  a  privateer  was  moored  across  the  mole-head  to  prevent  all 
boats  from  passing,  he  sent  word  to  the  committee  that  if  the 
slightest  opposition  were  made  to  the  embarkment  and  removal 
of  British  property  he  would  batter  the  town  down.  The  pri- 
vateer pointed  her  guns  at  the  officer  who  carried  this  message, 
and  muskets  were  leveled  against  his  boats  from  the  mole-head. 


70  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

Upon  this,  Captain  Sutton,  of  the  Egmont,  pulling  out  his 
watch,  gave  them  a  quarter  of  an  hour  to  deliberate  upon  their 
answer;  in  five  minutes  after  the  expiration  of  that  time  the 
ships,  he  said,  would  open  their  fire.  Upon  this  the  very 
sentinels  scampered  off,  and  every  vessel  came  out  of  the 
mole. 

A  shipowner  complained  to  the  commodore  that  the  muni- 
cipality refused  to  let  him  take  his  goods  out  of  the  custom 
house.  Nelson  directed  him  to  say  that  unless  they  were 
instantly  delivered  he  would  open  his  fire.  The  committee 
turned  pale,  and  without  answering  a  word  gave  him  the  keys. 
Their  last  attempt  was  to  levy  a  duty  upon  the  things  that 
were  reembarked.  He  sent  them  word  that  he  would  pay 
them  a  disagreeable  visit  if  there  were  any  more  complaints. 
The  committee  then  finding  that  they  had  to  deal  with  a  man 
who  knew  his  own  power  and  was  determined  to  make  the 
British  name  respected,  desisted  from  the  insolent  conduct 
which  they  had  assumed, ;  and  it  was  acknowledged  that  Bastia 
never  had  been  so  quiet  and  orderly  since  the  English  were  in 
possession  of  it.  This  was  on  the  1 4th  of  October  :  during  the 
five  following  days  the  work  of  embarkation  was  carried  on, 
the  private  property  was  saved,  and  public  stores  to  the  amount 
of  ;^2 00,000. 

The  French,  favored  by  the  Spanish  fleet,  which  was  at 
that  time  within  twelve  leagues  of  Bastia,  pushed  over  troops 
from  Leghorn,  who  landed  near  Cape  Corse  on  the  i8th,  and 
on  the  2oth,  at  one  in  the  morning,  entered  the  citadel,  an 
hour  only  after  the  British  had  spiked  the  guns  and  evacuated 
it.  Nelson  embarked  at  daybreak,  being  the  last  person  who 
left  the  shore,  —  having  thus,  as  he  said,  seen  the  first  and  the 
last  of  Corsica. 

Having  thus  ably  effected  this  humiliating  service  Nelson 
was  ordered  to  hoist  his  broad  pendant  on  board  the  Minerve 
frigate.  Captain  George  Cockburn,  and  with  the  Blanche  under 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.    VINCENT.  *J\ 

his  command  proceed  to  Porto  Ferrajo,  and  superintend  the 
evacuation  of  that  place  also.  On  his  way  he  fell  in  with  two 
Spanish  frigates,  the  Sabina  and  the  Ceres,  The  Minerve 
engaged  the  former,  which  was  commanded  by  Don  Jacobo 
Stuart,  a  descendant  of  the  Duke  of  Berwick.  After  an  action 
of  three  hours,  during  which  the  Spaniards  lost  164  men,  the 
Sabina  struck.  The  Spanish  captain,  who  was  the  only  surviv- 
ing officer,  had  hardly  been  conveyed  on  board  the  Minerve 
when  another  enemy's  frigate  came  up,  compelled  her  to  cast 
off  the  prize,  and  brought  her  a  second  time  to  action.  After 
half  an  hour's  trial  of  strength,  this  new  antagonist  wore  and 
hauled  off ;  but  a  Spanish  squadron  of  two  ships  of  the  line  and 
two  frigates  came  in  sight.  The  Blanche^  from  which  the  Ceres 
had  got  off,  was  far  to  windward,  and  the  Minerve  escaped  only 
by  the  anxiety  of  the  enemy  to  recover  their  own  ship.  As 
soon  as  Nelson  reached  Porto  Ferrajo  he  sent  his  prisoner  in  a 
flag  of  truce  to  Carthagena,  having  returned  him  his  sword. 
This  he  did  in  honor  of  the  gallantry  which  Don  Jacobo  had 
displayed,  and  not  without  some  feeling  of  respect  for  his 
ancestry.  **  I  felt  it,"  said  he,  *'  consonant  to  the  dignity  of 
my  country,  and  I  always  act  as  I  feel  right,  without  regard  to 
custom.  He  was  reputed  the  best  officer  in  Spain,  and  his  men 
were  worthy  of  such  a  commander."  By  the  same  flag  of  truce 
he  sent  back  all  the  Spanish  prisoners  at  Porto  Ferrajo,  in 
exchange  for  whom  he  received  his  own  men  who  had  been 
taken  in  the  prize. 

Nelson's  mind  had  long  been  irritated  and  depressed  by  the 
fear  that  a  general  action  would  take  place  before  he  could 
join  the  fleet.  At  length  he  sailed  from  Porto  Ferrajo  with  a 
convoy  for  Gibraltar,  and  having  reached  that  place  proceeded 
to  the  westward  in  search  of  the  admiral.  Off  the  mouth  of 
the  Straits  he  fell  in  with  the  Spanish  fleet,  and  on  the  13th 
of  February,  reaching  the  station  off  Cape  St.  Vincent,  com- 
municated this  intelligence  to  Sir  John  Jervis.     He  was  now 


72  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

directed  to  shift  his  broad  pendant  on  board  the  Captain^ 
seventy-four,  Captain  R.  W.  Miller,  and  before  sunset  the 
signal  was  made  to  prepare  for  action,  and  to  keep  during  the 
night  in  close  order.  At  daybreak  the  enemy  were  in  sight. 
The  British  force  consisted  of  two  ships  of  one  hundred  guns, 
two  of  ninety-eight,  two  of  ninety,  eight  of  seventy-four,  and 
one  of  sixty-four  —  fifteen  of  the  line  in  all,  with  four  frigates, 
a  sloop,  and  a  cutter.  The  Spaniards  had  one  four-decker  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-six  guns,  six  three-deckers  of  one 
hundred  and  twelve,  two  eighty-fours,  eighteen  seventy-fours 
—  in  all  twenty-seven  ships  of  the  line,  with  ten  frigates  and 
a  brig.  Their  admiral,  Don  Joseph  de  Cordova,  had  learnt 
from  an  American  on  the  5th  that  the  English  had  only  nine 
ships,  which  was  indeed  the  case  when  his  informer  had  seen 
them,  for  a  reinforcement  of  five  ships  from  England,  under 
Admiral  Parker,  had  not  then  joined,  and  the  Ciillodejt  had 
parted  company. 

Upon  this  information,  the  Spanish  commander,  instead  of 
going  into  Cadiz,  as  was  his  intention  when  he  sailed  from 
Carthagena,  determined  to  seek  an  enemy  so  inferior  in  force, 
and  relying  with  fatal  confidence  upon  the  American  account, 
he  suffered  his  ships  to  remain  too  far  dispersed  and  in  some 
disorder.  When  the  morning  of  the  14th  broke  and  dis- 
covered the  English  fleet,  a  fog  for  some  time  concealed  their 
number.  The  lookout  ship  of  the  Spaniards,  fancying  that 
her  signal  was  disregarded  because  so  little  notice  seemed  to 
be  taken  of  it,  made  another  signal  that  the  English  force  con- 
sisted of  forty  sail  of  the  line.  The  captain  afterwards  said 
he  did  this  to  rouse  the  admiral.  It  had  the  effect  of  perplexing 
him  and  alarming  the  whole  fleet.  The  absurdity  of  such  an 
act  shows  what  was  the  state  of  the  Spanish  navy  under  that 
miserable  government  by  which  Spain  was  so  long  oppressed 
and  degraded,  and  finally  betrayed.  In  reality,  the  general 
incapacity  of  the  naval  officers  was  so  well  known,  that  in  a 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.    VINCENT.  73 

pasquinade/  which  about  this  time  appeared  at  Madrid, 
wherein  the  different  orders  of  the  State  were  advertised  for 
sale,  the  greater  part  of  the  sea  officers,  with  all  their  equip- 
ments, were  offered  as  a  gift,  and  it  was  added  that  any  person 
who  would  please  to  take  them  should  receive  a  handsome 
gratuity. 

Before  the  enemy  could  form  a  regular  order  of  battle.  Sir 
John  Jervis,  by  carrying  a  press  of  sail,  came  up  with  them, 
passed  through  their  fleet,  then  tacked,  and  thus  cut  off  nine 
of  their  ships  from  the  main  body.  These  ships  attempted  to 
form  on  the  larboard  tack,  either  with  a  design  of  passing 
through  the  British  line,  or  to  leeward  of  it,  and  thus  rejoining 
their  friends.  Only  one  of  them  succeeded  in  this  attempt, 
and  that  only  because  she  was  so  covered  with  smoke  that  her 
intention  was  not  discovered  till  she  had  reached  the  rear ; 
the  others  were  so  warmly  received  that  they  put  about,  took 
to  flight,  and  did  not  appear  again  in  the  action  till  its  close. 
The  admiral  was  now  able  to  direct  his  attention  to  the 
enemy's  main  body,  which  was  still  superior  in  number  to  his 
whole  fleet,  and  more  so  in  weight  of  metal.  He  made  signal 
to  tack  in  succession.  Nelson,  whose  station  was  in  the  rear 
of  the  British  line,  perceived  that  the  Spaniards  were  bearing 
up  before  the  wind,  with  an  intention  of  forming  their  line, 
going  large,  and  joining  their  separated  ships,  or  else  of  getting 
off  without  an  engagement.  To  prevent  either  of  these  schemes 
he  disobeyed  the  signal  without  a  moment's  hesitation,  and 
ordered  his  ship  to  be  wore.  This  at  once  brought  him  into 
action  with  the  Santissima  Trinidad^  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
six,  the  San  Joseph^  one  hundred  and  twelve,  the  Salvador  del 
Miitido^  one  hundred  and  twelve,  the  Saii  Nicolas^  eighty,  the 
San  Isidro,  seventy-four,  another  seventy-four,  and  another 
first-rate.  Trowbridge,  in  the  Culloden,  immediately  joined 
■  and  most  nobly  supported  him,  and  for  nearly  an  hour  did  the 

1  Pasquinade,  —  A  lampoon. 


74  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

Culloden  and  Captain  maintain  what  Nelson  called  ''  this 
apparently  but  not  really  unequal  contest "  —  such  was  the 
advantage  of  skill  and  discipline,  and  the  confidence  which 
brave  men  derive  from  them. 

The  BlenJieim  then  passing  between  them  and  the  enemy, 
gave  them  a  respite,  and  poured  in  her  fire  upon  the  Spaniards. 
The  Salvador  del  Mimdo  and  San  Isidro  dropped  astern,  and 
were  fired  into  in  a  masterly  style  by  the  Excellent,  Captain 
Collingwood.  The  San  Isidro  struck,  and  Nelson  thought 
that  the  Salvador  struck  also.  "  But  Collingwood,"  says  he, 
"  disdaining  the  parade  of  taking  possession  of  beaten  enemies, 
most  gallantly  pushed  up,  with  every  sail  set,  to  save  his  old 
friend  and  messmate,  who  was  to  every  appearance  in  a  critical 
situation, '^  for  the  Captain  was  at  this  time  actually  fired  upon 
by  three  first-rates,  by  the  San  Nicolas,  and  by  a  seventy-four, 
within  about  pistol-shot  of  that  vessel.  The  Blenheim  was 
ahead,  the  Culloden  crippled  and  astern.  Collingwood  ranged 
up,  and  hauling  up  his  mainsail  just  astern,  passed  within  ten 
feet  of  the  San  Nicolas,  giving  her  a  most  tremendous  fire,  then 
passed  on  for  the  Santissima  Trinidad.  The  San  Nicolas  luffing 
up,  the  San  Joseph  fell  on  board  of  her,  and  Nelson  resumed 
his  station  abreast  of  them,  and  close  alongside.  The  Captain 
was  now  incapable  of  farther  service  either  in  the  line  or  in 
chase ;  she  had  lost  her  foretopmast ;  not  a  sail,  shroud,  or 
rope  was  left,  and  her  wheel  was  shot  away.  Nelson  therefore 
directed  Captain  Miller  to  put  the  helm  a-starboard,  and  calling 
for  the  boarders,  ordered  them  to  board. 
^  Captain  Berry,  who  had  lately  been  Nelson's  first  lieutenant, 
was  the  first  man  who  leaped  into  the  enemy's  mizzen-chains. 
Miller,  when  in  the  very  act  of  going,  was  ordered  by  Nelson 
to    remain.^      Berry   was    supported   from   the    spritsail-yard, 

^  Ordered  to  remain.  — "  While  Captain  Miller  was  leading  his  men  to 
the  San  Nicolas^  Commodore  Nelson  said,  *  No,  Miller  ;  I  must  have  that 
honor';  and  on  going  into  the  cabin,  after  the  contest,  Nelson  said, '  Miller, 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.  VINCENT.  75 

which  locked  in  the  San  Nicolas' s  main  rigging.  A  soldier  of 
the  69th  broke  the  upper  quarter-gallery  window  and  jumped 
in,  followed  by  the  commodore  himself,  and  by  others  as  fast 
as  possible.  The  cabin  doors  were  fastened,  and  the  Spanish 
officers  fired  their  pistols  at  them  through  the  window ;  the 
doors  were  soon  forced,  and  the  Spanish  brigadier  fell  while 
retreating  to  the  quarter-deck.  Nelson  pushed  on,  and  found 
Berry  in  possession  of  the  poop,  and  the  Spanish  ensign  haul- 
ing down.  He  passed  on  to  the  forecastle,  where  he  met  two 
or  three  Spanish  officers,  and  received  their  swords.  The 
English  were  now  in  full  possession  of  every  part  of  the  ship, 
and  a  fire  of  pistols  and  musketry  opened  upon  them  from 
the  admiral's  stern  gallery  of  the  San  Joseph. 

Nelson  having  placed  sentinels  at  the  different  ladders,  and 
ordered  Captain  Miller  to  send  more  men  into  the  prize,  gave 
orders  for  boarding  that  ship  from  the  San  Nicolas,  It  was 
done  in  an  instant,  he  himself  leading  the  way,  and  exclaiming, 
"  Westminster  Abbey,^  or  victory !  "  Berry  assisted  him  into 
the  main-chains,  and  at  that  very  moment  a  Spanish  officer 
looked  over  the  quarter-deck  rail  and  said  they  surrendered. 
It  was  not  long  before  he  was  on  the  quarter-deck,  where  the 
Spanish  captain  presented  to  him  his  sword,  and  told  him  the 
admiral  was  below,  dying  of  his  wounds.  There,  on  the 
quarter-deck  of  an  enemy's  first-rate,  he  received  the  swords  of 
the  officers,  giving  them  as  they  were  delivered,  one  by  one,  to 
William  Fearney,  one  of  his  old  ^"^  Agamemnons^'^  who  with  the 
utmost  coolness  put  them  under  his  arm.     One  of  his  sailors 

I  am  under  the  greatest  obligation  to  you,'  and  presented  him  with  the 
Spanish  captain's  sword;  and  then,  as  if  he  could  not  sufficiently  show  his 
sense  of  his  captain's  services,  he  again  expressed  his  obligation,  and  draw- 
ing a  ring  from  his  finger,  placed  it  on  Captain  Miller's." — Nelson's 
Dispatches. 

^  Westminster  Abbey.  —  The  burial-place  of  England's  great  men. 
Hence,  to  conquer  or  die.  That  Nelson  made  use  of  these  words  on  this 
occasion  is  very  doubtful. 


T6  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

came  up,  and  with  an  Englishman's  feeling  took  him  by  the 
hand,  saying  he  might  not  soon  have  such  another  place  to  do 
it  in,  and  he  was  heartily  glad  to  see  him  there.  Twenty-four 
of  the  Captain's  men  were  killed  and  fifty-six  wounded,  a  fourth 
part  of  the  loss  sustained  by  the  whole  squadron  falling  upon 
this  ship.     Nelson  received  only  a  few  bruises. 

The  Spaniards  had  still  eighteen  or  nineteen  ships  which 
had  suffered  little  or  no  injury;  that  part  of  the  fleet  which 
had  been  separated  from  the  main  body  in  the  morning  was 
now  coming  up,  and  Sir  John  Jervis  made  signal  to  bring-to. 
His  ships  could  not  have  formed  without  abandoning  those 
which  they  had  captured,  and  running  to  leeward ;  the  Captain 
was  lying  a  perfect  wreck  on  board  her  two  prizes,  and  many 
of  the  other  vessels  were  so  shattered  in  their  masts  and  rigging 
as  to  be  wholly  unmanageable.  The  Spanish  admiral  mean- 
time, according  to  his  official  account,  being  altogether  unde- 
cided in  his  own  opinion  respecting  the  state  of  the  fleet, 
inquired  of  his  captains  whether  it  was  proper  to  renew  the 
action ;  nine  of  them  answered  explicitly  that  it  was  not, 
others  replied  that  it  was  expedient  to  delay  the  business.  The 
Pelayo  and  the  Principe  Conquistador  were  the  only  ships  that 
were  for  fighting. 

As  soon  as  the  action  was  discontinued  Nelson  went  on 
board  the  admiral's  ship.  Sir  John  Jervis  received  him  on 
the  quarter-deck,  took  him  in  his  arms,  and  said  he  could  not 
sufficiently  thank  him.  For  this  victory  the  commander-in-chief 
was  rewarded  with  the  title  Earl  St.  Vincent.^     Nelson,  who, 

1  In  the  official  letter  of  Sir  John  Jervis,  Nelson  was  not  mentioned.  It 
is  said  that  the  admiral  had  seen  an  instance  of  the  ill  consequence  of  such 
selections  after  Lord  Howe's  victory,  and  therefore  would  not  name  any 
individual,  thinking  it  proper  to  speak  to  the  public  only  in  terms  of  gen- 
eral approbation.  His  private  letter  to  the  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty, 
was,  with  his  consent,  published,  for  the  first  time,  in  a  "  Life  of  Nelson  " 
by  Mr.  Harrison.     Here  it  is  said  that  "  Commodore  Nelson,  who  was  in 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.  VINCENT.  7/ 

before  the  action  was  known  in  England,  had  been  advanced 
to  the  rank  of  rear-admiral,  had  the  Order  of  the  Bath^ 
given  him.  The  sword  of  the  Spanish  rear-admiral,  which  Sir 
John  Jervis  insisted  upon  his  keeping,  he  presented  to  the 
mayor  and  corporation  of  Norwich,  saying  that  he  knew  no 
place  where  it  could  give  him  or  his  family  more  pleasure 
to  have  it  kept  than  in  the  capital  city  of  the  county  where  he 

the  rear  on  the  starboard  tack,  took  the  lead  on  the  larboard,  and  contri- 
buted very  much  to  the  fortune  of  the  day."  It  is  also  said  that  he 
boarded  the  two  Spanish  ships  successively  ;  but  the  fact  that  Nelson  wore 
without  orders,  and  thus  planned  as  well  as  accomplished  the  victory,  is  not 
explicitly  stated.  Perhaps  it  was  thought  proper  to  pass  over  this  part  of 
his  conduct  in  silence  as  a  splendid  fault  ;  but  such  an  example  is  not  dan- 
gerous. The  author  of  the  work  in  which  this  letter  was  first  made  public 
protests  against  those  over-zealous  friends  "who  would  make  the  action 
rather  appear  as  Nelson's  battle  than  that  of  the  illustrious  commander-in- 
chief  who  derives  from  it  so  deservedly  his  title.  No  man,"  he  says,  "  ever 
less  needed,  or  less  desired,  to  strip  a  single  leaf  from  the  honored  wreath 
of  any  other  hero,  with  the  vain  hope  of  augmenting  his  own,  than  the 
immortal  Nelson  ;  no  man  ever  more  merited  the  whole  of  that  which  a 
generous  nation  unanimously  presented  to  Sir  J.  Jervis  than  the  Earl  St. 
Vincent."  Certainly  Earl  St.  Vincent  well  deserved  the  reward  which  he 
received  ;  but  it  is  not  detracting  from  his  merit  to  say  that  Nelson  is  as 
fully  entitled  to  as  much  fame  from  this  action  as  the  commander-in-chief, 
not  because  the  brunt  of  the  action  fell  upon  him,  not  because  he  was 
engaged  with  all  the  four  ships  which  were  taken,  and  took  two  of  them,  it 
may  also  be  said,  with  his  own  hand  ;  but  because  the  decisive  movement 
which  enabled  him  to  perform  all  this,  and  by  which  the  action  became  a 
victory,  was  executed  in  neglect  of  orders,  and  upon  his  own  judgment  and 
at  his  peril.  Earl  St.  Vincent  deserved  his  earldom  ;  but  it  is  not  to  the 
honor  of  those  by  whom  titles  were  distributed  in  those  days  that  Nelson 
never  obtained  the  rank  of  earl  for  either  of  those  victories  which  he  lived 
to  enjoy,  though  the  one  was  the  most  complete  and  glorious  in  the  annals 
of  naval  history,  and  the  other  the  most  important  in  its  consequences  of 
any  which  was  achieved  during  the  whole  war. 

1  Order  of  the  Bath.  —  Made  a  knight  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath.  At  an 
inauguration  of  a  knight  in  olden  times  the  candidate  took  a  bath,  as  a 
part  of  the  ceremony. 


78  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

was  born.  The  freedom  of  that  city  was  voted  him  on  this 
occasion.  But  of  all  the  numerous  congratulations  which  he 
received  none  could  have  affected  him  more  deeply  than  that 
which  came  from  his  venerable  father.  "  I  thank  my  God/' 
said  that  excellent  man,  "  with  all  the  power  of  a  grateful  soul, 
for  the  mercies  he  has  most  graciously  bestowed  on  me  in 
preserving  you.  Not  only  my  few  acquaintance  here,  but  the 
people  in  general,  met  me  at  every  corner  with  such  hand- 
some words  that  I  was  obliged  to  retire  from  the  public  eye. 
The  height  of  glory  to  which  your  professional  judgment, 
united  with  a  proper  degree  of  bravery,  guarded  by  Provi- 
dence, has  raised  you,  few  sons,  my  dear  child,  attain  to,  and 
fewer  fathers  live  to  see.  Tears  of  joy  have  involuntarily 
trickled  down  my  furrowed  cheeks.  Who  could  stand  the 
force  of  such  general  congratulation  ?  The  name  and  services 
of  Nelson  have  sounded  throughout  this  city  of  Bath,  from  the 
common  ballad-singer  to  the  public  theatre. '^  The  good  old 
man  concluded  by  telling  him  that  the  field  of  glory,  in  which 
he  had  been  so  long  conspicuous,  was  still  open,  and  by  giving 
him  his  blessing. 

Sir  Horatio,  who  had  now  hoisted  his  flag  as  rear-admiral  of 
the  blue,  was  sent  to  bring  away  the  troops  from  Porto  Ferrajo; 
having  performed  this,  he  shifted  his  flag  to  the  Theseus.  That 
ship  had  taken  part  in  the  mutiny  ^  in  England,  and  being  just 
arrived  from  home,  some  danger  was  apprehended  from  the 
temper  of  the  men.  This  was  one  reason  why  Nelson  was 
removed  to  her.  He  had  not  been  on  board  many  weeks  before 
a  paper,  signed  in  the  name  of  all  the  ship's  company,  was 
dropped  on  the  quarter-deck,  containing  these  words  :  "  Success 
attend  Admiral  Nelson  !  God  bless  Captain  Miller !  We  thank 
them  for  the  officers  they  have  placed  over  us.  We  are  happy 
and  comfortable,  and  will  shed  every  drop  of  blood  in  our  veins 

^  Mutiny.  —  Reference  is  made  to  the  mutiny  at  Spithead  in  1797. 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.   VINCENT.  79 

to  support  them ;  and  the  name  of  the  Theseus  shall  be  immor- 
talized as  high  as  her  captain's."  ^ 

Wherever  Nelson  commanded  the  men  soon  became  attached 
to  him :  in  ten  days'  time  he  would  have  restored  the  most 
mutinous  ship  in  the  navy  to  order.  Whenever  an  officer  fails 
to  win  the  affections  of  those  who  are  under  his  command,  he 
may  be  assured  that  the  fault  is  chiefly  in  himself.^ 

While  Sir  Horatio  was  in  the  Theseus  he  was  employed  in 
the  command  of  the  inner  squadron  at  the  blockade  of  Cadiz. 
During  this  service  the  most  perilous  action  occurred  in  which 
he  was  ever  engaged.  Making  a  night  attack  upon  the  Spanish 
gunboats,  his  barge  was  attacked  by  an  armed  launch,  under 
their  commander,  Don  Miguel  Tregoyen,  carrying  twenty-six 
men.  Nelson  had  with  him  only  his  ten  bargemen,  Captain 
Freemantle,  and  his  coxswain,  John  Sykes,  an  old  and  faithful 
follower,  who  twice  saved  the  life  of  his  admiral  by  parrying 
the  blows  aimed  at  him,  and  at  last  actually  interposed  his  own 
head  to  receive  the  blow  of  a  Spanish  sabre,  which  he  could 
not  by  any  other  means  avert ;  thus  dearly  was  Nelson  beloved. 
This  was  a  desperate  service  —  hand  to  hand  with  swords;  and 

1  Her  Captain^s.  —  According  to  the  Nelson  Dispatches  the  text  should 
read  "  the  Captain^''  the  name  of  Nelson's  former  ship. 

2  A  thorough  sailor  himself,  nursed  in  the  lap  of  hardship,  Nelson  knew 
how  to  adapt  his  behavior  to  the  men  he  commanded,  and  never  did  an 
officer  possess  their  affections  to  a  higher  degree.  To  this  love  and  vene- 
ration he  was  not  only  indebted  for  his  early  successes,  but  even  for  his  life, 
as  there  was  scarcely  one  of  his  crew  who  would  not  have  sacrificed  him- 
self to  save  his  commander.  A  striking  instance  of  how  much  he  was 
adored  by  his  men  occurred  during  the  battle  of  Trafalgar.  A  seaman  of 
the  Victory  was  under  the  hands  of  the  surgeon,  suffering  the  amputation  of 
an  arm.  "  Well,"  said  he,  "  this,  by  some,  would  be  considered  a  mis- 
fortune, but  I  shall  be  proud  of  it,  as  I  shall  resemble  the  more  our  brave 
admiral."  Before  the  operation  was  finished,  tidings  were  brought  below 
that  Nelson  was  shot ;  the  man,  who  had  never  shrunk  from  the  pain  he 
had  endured,  started  from  his  seat,  and  exclaimed  :  "  Good  God  !  I  would 
rather  the  shot  had  taken  off  my  head  and  spared  his  life." 


8o  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

Nelson  always  considered  that  his  personal  courage  was  more 
conspicuous  on  this  occasion  than  on  any  other  during  his 
whole  life.  Notwithstanding  the  great  disproportion  of  num- 
bers, eighteen  of  the  enemy  were  killed,  all  the  rest  wounded, 
and  their  launch  taken.  Nelson  would  have  asked  for  a  lieu- 
tenancy for  Sykes  if  he  had  served  long  enough :  his  manner 
and  conduct,  he  observed,  were  so  entirely  above  his  situation 
that  Nature  certainly  intended  him  for  a  gentleman ;  but  though 
he  recovered  from  the  dangerous  wound  which  he  received  in 
this  act  of  heroic  attachment,  he  did  not  live  to  profit  by  the 
gratitude  and  friendship  of  his  commander. 

Twelve  days  after  this  rencontre.  Nelson  sailed  at  the  head  of 
an  expedition  against  Teneriffe.  A  report  had  prevailed  a  few 
months  before  that  the  viceroy  of  Mexico,  with  the  treasure- 
ships,  had  put  into  that  island.  This  had  led  Nelson  to  medi- 
tate the  plan  of  an  attack  upon  it,  which  he  communicated  to 
Earl  St.  Vincent. 

The  plan  was,  that  the  boats  should  land  in  the  night, 
between  the  fort  on  the  N.E.'side  of  Santa  Cruz  Bay  and  the 
town,  make  themselves  masters  of  that  fort,  and  then  send  a 
summons  to  the  governor.  By  midnight  the  three  frigates, 
having  the  force  on  board  which  was  intended  for  this  debarka- 
tion, approached  within  three  miles  of  the  place ;  but  owing  to 
a  strong  gale  of  wind  in  the  offing,  and  a  strong  current  against 
them  inshore,  they  were  not  able  to  get  within  a  mile  of  the 
landing-place  before  daybreak,  and  then  they  were  seen  and 
their  intention  discovered.  Trowbridge  and  Bowen,  with  Cap- 
tain Oldfield  of  the  marines,  went,  upon  this,  to  consult  with 
the  admiral  what  was  to  be  done  ;  and  it  was  resolved  that 
they  should  attempt  to  get  possession  of  the  heights  above  the 
fort.  The  frigates  accordingly  landed  their  men,  and  Nelson 
stood  in  with  the  line-of-battle  ships,  meaning  to  batter  the 
fort  for  the  purpose  of  distracting  the  attention  of  the  garrison. 
A  calm  and  contrary  current  hindered  him  from  getting  within 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.  VINCENT.  8 1 

a  league  of  the  shore,  and  the  heights  were  by  this  time  so 
secured,  and  manned  with  such  a  force,  as  to  be  judged  impracti- 
cable. Thus  foiled  in  his  plans  by  circumstances  of  wind  and 
tide,  he  still  considered  it  a  point  of  honor  that  some  attempt 
should  be  made.  This  was  on  the  22d  of  July;  he  reembarked 
his  men  that  night,  got  the  ships  on  the  24th  to  anchor  about 
two  miles  north  of  the  town,  and  made  show  as  if  he  intended 
to  attack  the  heights. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  the  boats,  containing  between  600  and  700 
men,  with  180  on  board  the  Fox  cutter,  and  from  70  to  80  in  a 
boat  which  had  been  taken  the  day  before,  proceeded  in  six 
divisions  towards  the  town,  conducted  by  all  the  captains  of  the 
squadron,  except  Freemantle  and  Bowen,  who  attended  with 
Nelson  to  regulate  and  lead  the  way  to  the  attack.  They 
were  to  land  on  a  mole,  and  thence  hasten  as  fast  as  possible 
into  the  great  square;  then  form  and  proceed  as  should  be 
found  expedient.  They  were  not  discovered  until  about  half- 
past  one  o'clock,  when,  being  within  half-gunshot  of  the  landing- 
place,  Nelson  directed  the  boats  to  cast  off  from  each  other, 
give  a  huzza,  and  push  for  the  shore.  But  the  Spaniards  were 
excellently  w^U  prepared  ;  the  alarm-bells  answered  the  huzza, 
and  a  fire  of  thirty  or  forty  pieces  of  cannon,  with  musketry 
from  one  end  of  the  town  to  the  other,  opened  upon  the  invad- 
ers. Nothing,  however,  could  check  the  intrepidity  with  which 
they  advanced.  The  night  was  exceedingly  dark ;  most  of  the 
boats  missed  the  mole,  and  went  on  shore  through  a  raging 
surf,  which  stove  all  to  the  left  of  it.  The  Admiral^  Freemantle, 
Thompson,  Bowen,  and  four  or  five  other  boats,  found  the  mole ; 
they  stormed  it  instantly,  and  carried  it,  though  it  was  defended, 
as  they  imagined,  by  four  or  five  hundred  men.  Its  guns, 
which  were  six-and-twenty  pounders,  were  spiked ;  but  such  a 
heavy  fire  of  musketry  and  grape  was  kept  up  from  the  citadel 
and  the  houses  at  the  head  of  the  mole,  that  the  assailants  could 
not  advance,  and  nearly  all  of  them  were  killed  or  wounded. 


82  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

In  the  act  of  stepping  out  of  the  boat  Nelson  received  a  shot 
through  the  right  elbow,  and  fell ;  but  as  he  fell  he  caught  the 
sword  which  he  had  just  drawn,  in  his  left  hand,  determined 
never  to  part  with  it  while  he  lived,  for  it  had  belonged  to  his 
uncle.  Captain  Suckling,  and  he  valued  it  like  a  relic.  Nisbet, 
who  was  close  to  him,  placed  him  at  the  bottom  of  the  boat, 
and  laid  his  hat  over  the  shattered  arm,  lest  the  sight  of  the 
blood,  which  gushed  out  in  great  abundance,  should  increase 
his  faintness.  He  then  examined  the  wound,  and  taking  some 
silk  handkerchiefs  from  his  neck,  bound  them  tightly  above 
the  lacerated  vessels.  Had  it  not  been  for  this  presence  of 
mind  in  his  son-in-law,^  Nelson  must  have  perished.  One  of 
his  bargemen,  by  name  Lovel,  tore  his  shirt  into  shreds,  and 
made  a  sling  with  them  for  the  broken  limb.  They  then 
collected  five  other  seamen,  by  whose  assistance  they  succeeded 
at  length  in  getting  the  boat  afloat,  for  it  had  grounded  with 
the  falling  tide.  Nisbet  took  one  of  the  oars,  and  ordered  the 
steersman  to  go  close  under  the  guns  of  the  battery,  that  they 
might  be  safe  from  its  tremendous  fire.  Hearing  his  voice. 
Nelson  roused  himself,  and  desired  to  be  lifted  up  in  the  boat 
that  he  might  look  about  him.  Nisbet  raised. him  up,  but 
nothing  could  be  seen  except  the  firing  of  the  guns  on  shore, 
and  what  could  be  discerned  by  their  flashes  upon  the  stormy 
sea.  In  a  few  minutes  a  general  shriek  was  heard  from  the 
crew  of  the  Fox^  which  had  received  a  shot  under  water,  and 
went  down.  Ninety-seven  men  were  lost  in  her  ;  eighty-three 
were  saved,  many  by  Nelson  himself,  whose  exertions  on  this 
occasion  greatly  increased  the  pain  and  danger  of  his  wound. 
The  first  ship  which  the  boat  could  reach  happened  to  be  the 
Seahorse^  but  nothing  could  induce  him  to  go  on  board,  though 
he  was  assured  that  if  they  attempted  to  row  to  another  ship  it 
might  be  at  the  risk  of  his  life.     "  I  had  rather  suffer  death," 

^  Son-in-law.  —  Nelson  had  no  son-in-law.  Reference  is  made  to  Nisbet, 
his  step-son. 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.   VINCENT.  83 

he  replied,  ''  than  alarm  Mrs.  Freemantle  by  letting  her  see  me 
in  this  state,  when  I  can  give  her  no  tidings  whatever  of  her 
husband."  They  pushed  on  for  the  Theseus.  When  they 
came  alongside  he  peremptorily  refused  all  assistance  in  getting 
on  board,  so  impatient  was  he  that  the  boat  should  return,  in 
hopes  that  it  might  save  a  few  more  from  the  Fox.  He  desired 
to  have  only  a  single  rope  thrown  over  the  side,  which  he 
twisted  round  his  left  hand,  saying,  "  Let  me  alone  ;  I  have 
yet  my  legs  left  and  one  arm.  Tell  the  surgeon  to  make  haste 
and  get  his  instruments.  I  know  I  must  lose  my  right  arm ; 
so  the  sooner  it  is  off  the  better. '^  ^  The  spirit  which  he  dis- 
played in  jumping  up  the  ship's  side  astonished  everybody. 

Freemantle  had  been  severely  wounded  in  the  right  arm  soon 
after  the  admiral.  He  was  fortunate  enough  to  find  a  boat  at 
the  beach,  and  got  instantly  to  his  ship.  Thompson  was 
wounded ;  Bowen  killed,  to  the  great  regret  of  Nelson ;  as  was 
also  one  of  his  own  officers,  Lieutenant  Weatherhead,  who  had 
followed  him  from  the  Agamemnon^  and  whom  he  greatly  and 
deservedly  esteemed.  Trowbridge,  meantime,  fortunately  for 
his  party,  missed  the  mole  in  the  darkness,  but  pushed  on 
shore  under  the  batteries,  close  to  the  south  end  of  the  citadel. 
Captain  Waller  of  the  Emerald^  and  two  or  three  other  boats, 
landed  at  the  same  time.  The  surf  was  so  high  that  many 
others  put  back.  The  boats  were  instantly  filled  with  water 
and  stove  against  the  rocks,  and  most  of  the  ammunition  in  the 
men's  pouches  was  wetted.     Having  collected  a  few  men,  they 

^  During  the  Peace  of  Amiens,  when  Nelson  was  passing  through  Salis- 
bury, and  received  there  with  those  acclamations  which  followed  him  every- 
where, he  recognized  amid  the  crowd  a  man  who  had  assisted  at  the 
amputation,  and  attended  him  afterwards.  He  beckoned  him  up  the  stairs 
of  the  Council  House,  shook  hands  with  him,  and  made  him  a  present,  in 
remembrance  of  his  services  at  that  time.  The  man  took  from  his  bosom 
a  piece  of  lace  which  he  had  torn  from  the  sleeve  of  the  amputated  limb, 
saying  he  had  preserved  and  would  preserve  it  to  the  last  moment,  in 
memory  of  his  old  commander. 


84  southey's  life  of  nelson 

pushed  on  to  the  great  square,  hoping  there  to  find  the  Admiral 
and  the  rest  of  the  force.  The  ladders  were  all  lost,  so  that 
they  could  make  no  immediate  attempt  on  the  citadel  ;  but 
they  sent  a  sergeant  with  two  of  the  townspeople  to  summon  it. 
This  messenger  never  returned,  and  Trowbridge,  having  waited 
about  an  hour  ip  painful  expectation  of  his  friends,  marched  to 
join  Captains  Hood  and  Miller,  who  had  effected  their  landing 
to  the  southwest.  They  then  endeavored  to  procure  some 
intelligence  of  the  admiral  and  the  rest  of  the  officers,  but 
without  success. 

By  daybreak  they  had  gathered  together  about  eighty  marines, 
eighty  pikemen,  and  one  hundred  and  eighty  small-arm  seamen 
—  all  the  survivors  of  those  who  had  made  good  their  landing. 
They  obtained  some  ammunition  from  the  prisoners  whom  they 
had  taken,  and  marched  on  to  try  what  could  be  done  at  the 
citadel  without  ladders.  They  found  all  the  streets  commanded 
by  field-pieces,  and  several  thousand  Spaniards,  with  about  a 
hundred  French,  under  arms,  approaching  by  every  avenue. 
Finding  himself  without  provisions,  the  powder  wet,  and  no 
possibility  of  obtaining  either  stores  or  reinforcements  from  the 
ships,  the  boats  being  lost,  Trowbridge,  with  great  presence  of 
mind,  sent  Captain  Samuel  Hood  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  the 
governor  to  say  he  was  prepared  to  burn  the  town,  and  would 
instantly  set  fire  to  it,  if  the  Spaniards  approached  one  inch 
nearer.  This,  however,  if  he  were  compelled  to  do  it,  he  should 
do  with  regret,  for  he  had  no  wish  to  injure  the  inhabitants, 
and  he  was  ready  to  treat  upon  these  terms :  that  the  British 
troops  should  reembark  with  all  their  arms  of  every  kind,  and 
take  their  own  boats,  if  they  were  saved,  or  be  provided  with 
such  others  as  might  be  wanting;  they  on  their  part  engaging 
that  the  squadron  should  not  molest  the  town  nor  any  of  the 
Canary  Islands ;  all  prisoners  on  both  sides  to  be  given  up. 

When  these  terms  were  proposed,  the  governor  made  answer 
that  the  English  ought  to  surrender  as  prisoners  of  war ;  but 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.   VINCENT.  85 

Captain  Hood  replied  he  was  instructed  to  say  that  if  the 
terms  were  not  accepted  in  five  minutes,  Captain  Trowbridge 
would  set  the  town  on  fire  and  attack  the  Spaniards  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet.  Satisfied  with  his  success,  which  was  indeed 
sufficiently  complete,  and  respecting,  like  a  brave  and  honorable 
man,  the  gallantry  of  his  enemy,  the  Spaniard  acceded  to  the 
proposal.  "  And  here,"  says  Nelson  in  his  journal,  ''  it  is  right 
we  should  notice  the  noble  and  generous  conduct  of  Don  Juan 
Antonio  Gutierrez,  the  Spanish  governor.  The  moment  the 
terms  were  agreed  to  he  directed  our  wounded  men  to  be 
received  into  the  hospitals,  and  all  our  people  to  be  supplied 
with  the  best  provisions  that  could  be  procured,  and  made  it 
known  that  the  ships  were  at  liberty  to  send  on  shore  and 
purchase  whatever  refreshments  they  were  in  want  of  during 
the  time  they  might  be  off  the  island."  A  youth,  by  name 
Don  Bernardo  Collagon,  stript  himself  of  his  shirt  to  make 
bandages  for  one  of  those  Englishmen  against  whom,  not  an 
hour  before,  he  had  been  engaged  in  battle.  Nelson  wrote  to 
thank  the  governor  for  the  humanity  which  he  had  displayed. 
Presents  were  interchanged  between  them.  Sir  Horatio  offered 
to  take  charge  of  his  dispatches  for  the  Spanish  government, 
and  thus  actually  became  the  first  messenger  to  Spain  of  his 
own  defeat. 

The  total  loss  of  the  English  in  killed,  wounded,  and  drowned 
amounted  to  250.  Nelson  made  no  mention  of  his  own  wound 
in  his  official  dispatches,  but  in  a  private  letter  to  Lord  St.  Vin- 
cent —  the  first  which  he  wrote  with  his  left  hand  —  he  shows 
himself  to  have  been  deeply  affected  by  the  failure  of  this 
enterprise.  "  I  am  become,"  he  said,  *'  a  burden  to  my  friends 
and  useless  to  my  country  ;  but  by  my  last  letter  you  will 
perceive  my  anxiety  for  the  promotion  of  my  son-in-law, 
Josiah  Nisbet.  When  I  leave  your  command  I  become  dead 
to  the  world  ;  *  I  go  hence  and  am  no  more  seen.'  If  from 
poor  Bowen's  loss  you  think  it  proper  to  oblige  me,  I  rest  con- 


86  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

fident  you  will  do  it.  The  boy  is  under  obligations  to  me,  but 
he  repaid  me  by  bringing  me  from  the  mole  of  Santa  Cruz.  I 
hope  you  will  be  able  to  give  me  a  frigate  to  convey  the  remains 
of  my  carcass  to  England."  —  "A  left-handed  admiral,"  he 
said  in  a  subsequent  letter,  "  will  never  again  be  considered  as 
useful ;  therefore  the  sooner  I  get  to  a  very  humble  cottage  the 
better,  and  make  room  for  a  sounder  man  to  serve  the  State." 
His  first  letter  to  Lady  Nelson  was  written  under  the  same 
opinion,  but  in  a  more  cheerful  strain.  "  It  was  the  chance  of 
war,"  said  he,  ''  and  I  have  great  reason  to  be  thankful ;  and 
I  know  it  will  add  much  to  your  pleasure  to  find  that  Josiah, 
under  God's  providence,  was  principally  instrumental  in  saving 
my  life.  I  shall  not  be  surprised  if  I  am  neglected  and 
forgotten ;  probably  I  shall  no  longer  be  considered  as  useful. 
However,  I  shall  feel  rich  if  I  continue  to  enjoy  your  affection. 
I  beg  neither  you  nor  my  father  will  think  much  of  this  mishap  ; 
my  mind  has  long  been  made  up  to  such  an  event." 

His  son-in-law,  according  to  his  wish,  was  immediately  pro- 
moted, and  honors  enough  to  heal  his  wounded  spirit  awaited 
him  in  England.  Letters  were  addressed  to  him  by  the  First 
Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  and  by  his  steady  friend  the  Duke  of 
Clarence,  to  congratulate  him  on  his  return,  covered  as  he  was 
with  glory.  He  assured  the  duke  in  his  reply  that  not  a  scrap 
of  that  ardor  with  which  he  had  hitherto  served  his  King  had 
been  shot  away.  The  freedom  of  the  cities  of  Bristol  and 
London  was  transmitted  to  him,  he  was  invested  with  the 
Order  of  the  Bath,  and  received  a  pension  of  ;^iooo  a  year. 
The  memorial  which,  as  a  matter  of  form,  he  was  called  upon 
to  present  on  this  occasion,  exhibited  an  extraordinary  cata- 
logue of  services  performed  during  the  war.  It  stated  that  he 
had  been  in  four  actions  with  the  fleets  of  the  enemy,  and  in 
three  actions  with  boats  employed  in  cutting  out  of  harbor,  in 
destroying  vessels,  and  in  taking  three  towns ;  he  had  served 
on   shore   with   the   army  four  months,   and  commanded  the 


BATTLE    OFF    CAPE    ST.   VINCENT.  8/ 

batteries  at  the  sieges  of  Bastia  and  Calvi ;  he  had  assisted  at 
the  capture  of  seven  sail  of  the  line,  six  frigates,  four  corvettes, 
and  eleven  privateers  ;  taken  and  destroyed  nearly  fifty  sail  of 
merchant  vessels;  and  actually  been  engaged  against  the 
enemy  upwards  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  times,  in  which 
service  he  had  lost  his  right  eye  and  right  arm,  and  been 
severely  wounded  and  bruised  in  his  body. 

His  sufferings  from  the  lost  limb  were  long  and  painful.  A 
nerve  had  been  taken  up  in  one  of  the  ligatures  at  the  time  of 
the  operation,  and  the  ligature,  according  to  the  practice  of  the 
French  surgeons,  was  of  silk,  instead  of  waxed  thread.  This 
produced  a  constant  irritation  and  discharge,  and  the  ends  of 
the  ligature  being  pulled  every  day,  in  hopes  of  bringing  it 
away,  occasioned  great  agony.  He  had  scarcely  any  inter- 
mission of  pain  day  or  night  for  three  months  after  his  return 
to  England.  Lady  Nelson,  at  his  earnest  request,  attended 
the  dressing  of  his  arm  till  she  had  acquired  sufficient  resolu- 
tion and  skill  to  dress  it  herself.  One  night  during  this  state 
of  suffering,  after  a  day  of  constant  pain.  Nelson  retired  early 
to  bed  in  hope  of  enjoying  some  respite  by  means  of  laudanum. 
He  was  at  that  time  lodging  in  Bond  Street,  and  the  family 
were  soon  disturbed  by  a  mob  knocking  loudly  and  violently 
at  the  door.  The  news  of  Duncan's  victory  ^  had  been  made 
public,  and  the  house  was  not  illuminated.  But  when  the 
mob  were  told  that  Admiral  Nelson  lay  there  in  bed,  badly 
wounded,  the  foremost  of  them  made  answer,  "  You  shall  hear 
no  more  from  us  to-night ;  "  and  in  fact  the  feeling  of  respect 
and  sympathy  was  communicated  from  one  to  another  with 
such  effect  that  under  the  confusion  of  such  a  night  the  house 
was  not  molested  again. 

About  the  end  of  November,  after  a  night  of  sound  sleep, 
he   found  the   arm   nearly  free   from   pain ;    the  surgeon  was 

^  Duncan's  Victory.  —  The  reference  is  to  Admiral  Duncan's  victory 
over  the  Dutch  at  Camperdoun,  Oct.  ii,  1797. 


55  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

immediately  sent  for  to  examine  it,  and  the  ligature  came 
away  with  the  slightest  touch.  From  that  time  it  began  to 
heal.  As  soon  as  he  thought  his  health  established,  he  sent 
the  following  form  of  thanksgiving  to  the  minister  of  St. 
George's,  Hanover  Square:  "An  officer  desires  to  return 
thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  his  perfect  recovery  from  a 
severe  wound,  and  also  for  the  many  mercies  bestowed  on 
him." 

Not  having  been  in  England  till  now  since  he  lost  his  eye, 
he  went  to  receive  a  year's  pay  as  smart-money,  but  could  not 
obtain  payment  because  he  had  neglected  to  bring  a  certificate 
from  a  surgeon  that  the  sight  was  actually  destroyed.  A  little 
irritated  that  this  form  should  be  insisted  upon,  because, 
though  the  fact  was  not  apparent,  he  thought  it  was  suffi- 
ciently notorious,  he  procured  a  certificate  at  the  same  time 
for  the  loss  of  his  arm,  saying  they  might  just  as  well  doubt 
one  as  the  other.  This  put  him  in  good  humor  with  himself 
and  with  the  clerk  who  had  offended  him.  On  his  return  to 
the  office,  the  clerk,  finding  it  was  only  the  annual  pay  of 
a  captain,  observed  he  thought  it  had  been  more.  "  Oh  !  " 
replied  Nelson,  "  this  is  only  for  an  eye.  In  a  few  days  I 
shall  come  for  an  arm,  and  in  a  little  time  longer,  God  knows, 
most  probably  for  a  leg."  Accordingly,  he  soon  afterwards 
went,  and  with  perfect  good  humor  exhibited  the  certificate  of 
the  loss  of  his  arm. 


CHAPTER   V. 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE. 


EARLY  in  the  year  1798  Sir  Horatio  Nelson  hoisted  his 
flag  in  the  Vanguard^  and  was  ordered  to  rejoin  Earl 
St.  Vincent. .  Upon  his  departure  his  father  addressed  him 
with  that  affectionate  solemnity  by  which  all  his  letters  were 
distinguished.  *'  I  trust  in  the  Lord,"  said  he,  *'  that  He  will 
prosper  your  going  out  and  your  coming  in.  I  earnestly  de- 
sired once  more  to  see  you,  and  that  wish  has  been  heard.  If 
I  should  presume  to  say,  I  hope  to  see  you  again,  the  question 
would  be  readily  asked,  How  old  art  thou  ?  Vale !  vale  I 
Domine,  valef^^ 

Immediately  on  his  rejoining  the  fleet  he  was  dispatched  to 
the  Mediterranean  with  a  small  squadron,  in  order  to  ascertain, 
if  possible,  the  object  of  the  great  expedition  which  at  that 
time  was  fitting  out  under  Bonaparte  at  Toulon,  The  defeat 
of  this  armament,  whatever  might  be  its  destination,  was 
deemed  by  the  British  government  an  object  paramount  to 
every  other ;  and  Earl  St.  Vincent  was  directed,  if  he  th'ought 
it  necessary,  to  take  his  whole  force  into  the  Mediterranean, 
to  relinquish  for  that  purpose  the  blockade  of  the  Spanish 
fleet  as  a  thing  of  inferior  moment ;  but  if  he  should  deem  a 
detachment  sufficient,  "  I  think  it  almost  unnecessary,"  said 
the  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty  in  his  secret  instructions,  "to 
suggest  to  you  the  propriety  of  putting  it  under  Sir  Horatio 
Nelson."  It  is  to  the  honor  of  Earl  St.  Vincent  that  he  had 
already  made  the  same  choice. 

The  armament  at  Toulon  consisted  of  thirteen  ships  of  the 
line,  seven  forty-gun  frigates,  with  twenty-four  smaller  vessels 
of  war  and  nearly  200  transports.     Mr.  Udney,  our  consul  at 


90  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

Leghorn,  was  the  first  person  who  procured  certain  intelligence 
of  the  enemy's  design  against  Malta,  and  from  his  own  sagacity 
foresaw  that  Egypt  must  be  their  after-object.  Nelson  sailed 
from  Gibraltar  on  the  9th  of  May,  with  the  Vanguard^  Orion, 
and  Alexander,  seventy-fours ;  the  Caroline,  Flora,  Emerald, 
and  Terpischore,  frigates  ;  and  the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  sloop  of  war, 
to  watch  this  formidable  armament.  On  the  19th,  when  they 
were  in  the  Gulf  of  Lyons,  a  gale  came  on  from  the  N.W.  It 
moderated  so  much  on  the  20th  as  to  enable  them  to  get  their 
topgallant  masts  and  yards  aloft.  After  dark  it  again  began  to 
blow  strong  ;  but  the  ships  had  been  prepared  for  a  gale,  and 
therefore  Nelson's  mind  was  easy.  Shortly  after  midnight, 
however,  his  main-topmast  went  over  the  side,  and  the  mizzen- 
topmast  soon  afterward.  The  night  was  so  tempestuous  that 
it  was  impossible  for  any  signal  either  to  be  seen  or  heard,  and 
Nelson  determined,  as  soon  as  it  should  be  daybreak,  to  wear, 
and  scud  before  the  gale  ;  but  at  half-past  three  the  foremast 
went  in  three  pieces,  and  the  bowsprit  was  found  to  be  sprung 
in  three  places. 

When  day  broke  they  succeeded  in  wearing  the  ship  with 
a  remnant  of  the  spritsail.  This  was  hardly  to  have  been  ex- 
pected. The  Vanguard  was  at  that  tin^'e  twenty-five  leagues 
south  of  the  island  of  Hieres,  with  her  head  lying  to  the  N.E., 
and  if  she  had  not  wore  the  ship  must  have  drifted  to  Corsica. 
Captain  Ball,  in  the  Alexander,  took  her  in  tow,  to  carry  her 
into  the  Sardinian  harbor  of  St.  Pietro.  Nelson,  apprehensive 
that  this  attempt  might  endanger  both  vessels,  ordered  him  to 
cast  off  ;  but  that  excellent  officer,  with  a  spirit  like  his  com- 
mander's, replied  he  was  confident  he  could  save  the  Vanguard, 
and  by  God's  help  he  would  do  it.  There  had  been  a  previous 
coolness  between  these  great  men,  but  by  this  time  Nelson  be- 
came fully  sensible  of  the  extraordinary  talents  of  Captain  Ball, 
and  a  sincere  friendship  subsisted  between  them  during  the 
remainder  of  their  lives. 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  9 1 

"  I  ought  not,"  said  the  admiral,  writing  to  his  wife,  "  I 
ought  not  to  call  what  has  happened  to  the  Vanguard  by  the 
cold  name  of  accident ;  I  believe  firmly  it  was  the  Almighty's 
goodness  to  check  my  consummate  vanity.  I  hope  it  has  made 
me  a  better  officer,  as  I  feel  confident  it  has  made  me  a  better 
man.  Figure  to  yourself,  on  Sunday  evening  at  sunset,  a  vain 
man  walking  in  his  cabin,  with  a  squadron  around  him,  who 
looked  up  to  their  chief  to  lead  them  to  glory,  and  in  whom 
their  chief  placed  the  firmest  reliance  that  the  proudest  ships 
of  equal  numbers  belonging  to  France  would  have  lowered 
their  flags;  figure  to  yourself,  on  Monday  morning  when  the 
sun  rose,  this  proud  man,  his  ship  dismasted,  his  fleet  dispersed, 
and  himself  in  such  distress  that  the  meanest  frigate  out  of 
France  would  have  been  an  unwelcome  guest." 

Nelson  had  indeed  more  reason  to  refuse  the  cold  name  of 
accident  to  this  tempest  than  he  was  then  aware  of,  for  on  that 
very  day  the  French  fleet  sailed  from  Toulon,  and  must  have 
passed  within  a  few  leagues  of  his  little  squadron,  which  was 
thus  preserved  by  the  thick  weather  that  came  on. 

The  British  government  at  this  time,  with  a  becoming  spirit, 
gave  orders  that  any  port  in  the  Mediterranean  should  be  con- 
sidered as  hostile  where  the  governor  or  chief  magistrate  should 
refuse  to  let  our  ships  of  war  procure  supplies  of  provisions  or 
of  any  article  which  they  might  require. 

In  the  orders  of  the  British  government  to  consider  all  ports 
as  hostile  where  the  British  ships  should  be  refused  supplies 
the  ports  of  Sardinia  were  excepted.  The  continental  posses- 
sions of  the  King  of  Sardinia  were  at  this  time  completely  at 
the  mercy  of  the  French,  and  that  prince  was  now  discover- 
ing, when  too  late,  that  the  terms  to  which  he  had  consented, 
for  the  purpose  of  escaping  immediate  danger,  necessarily  in- 
volved the  loss  of  the  dominions  which  they  were  intended  to 
preserve.  The  citadel  of  Turin  was  now  occupied  by  French 
troops,  and  his  wretched  court  feared  to  afford  the  common 


92  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

rights  of  humanity  to  British  ships,  lest  it  should  give  the 
French  occasion  to  seize  on  the  remainder  of  his  dominions  — 
4  measure  for  which  it  was  certain  they  would  soon  make  a 
pretext  if  they  did  not  find  one.  Nelson  was  informed  that  he 
could  not  be  permitted  to  enter  the  port  of  St.  Pietro.  Regard- 
less of  this  interdict,  which  under  his  circumstances  it  would 
have  been  an  act  of  suicidal  folly  to  have  regarded,  he  anchored 
in  the  harbor ;  and  by  the  exertions  of  Sir  James  Saumarez, 
Captain  Ball,  and  Captain  Berry,  the  Vanguard  was  refitted  in 
four  days  :  months  would  have  been  employed  in  refitting  her 
in  England. 

The  delay  which  was  thus  occasioned  was  useful  to  him  in 
many  respects.  It  enabled  him  to  complete  his  supply  of 
water,  and  to  receive  a  reinforcement  which  Earl  St.  Vincent, 
being  himself  reinforced  from  England,  was  enabled  to  send 
him.  It  consisted-  of  the  best  ships  of  his  fleet :  the  Culloden, 
seventy-four.  Captain  T.  Trowbridge ;  Goliath,  seventy-four. 
Captain  T.  Foley ;  Minotaur,  seventy-four.  Captain  T.  Louis ; 
Defence,  seventy-four.  Captain  John  Peyton ;  Bellerophon, 
seventy-four,  Captain  H.  D.  E.  Darby  ;  Majestic,  seventy-four. 
Captain  G.  B.  Westcott ;  Zealous,  seventy-four.  Captain  S. 
Hood;  Swiftsure,  seventy-four.  Captain  B.  Hallowell;  Theseus, 
seventy-four.  Captain  R.  W.  Miller ;  Audacious,  seventy-four, 
Captain  Davidge  Gould.  The  Leander,  fifty.  Captain  T.  B. 
Thompson,  was  afterwards  added. 

These  ships  were  made  ready  for  the  service  as  soon  as  Earl 
St.  Vincent  received  advice  from  England  that  he  w§-s  to  be 
reinforced.  As  soon  as  the  reinforcement  was  seen  from  the 
masthead  of  the  admiral's  ship  off  Cadiz  Bay,  signal  was  im- 
mediately made  to  Captain  Trowbridge  to  put  to  sea,  and  he 
was  out  of  sight  before  the  ships  from  home  cast  anchor  in  the 
British  station.  Trowbridge  took  with  him  no  instructions  to 
Nelson  as  to  the  course  he  was  to  steer,  nor  any  certain 
account  of  the  enemy's  destination ;  everything  was  left  to  his 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  93 

own  judgment.  Unfortunately,  the  frigates  had  been  sepa- 
rated from  him  in  the  tempest,  and  had  not  been  able  to 
rejoin ;  they  sought  him  unsuccessfully  in  the  Bay  of  Naples, 
where  they  obtained  no  tidings  of  his  course,  and  he  sailed 
without  them. 

The  first  news  of  the  enemy's  armament  was  that  it  had 
surprised  Malta.  Nelson  formed  a  plan  for  attacking  it  while 
at  anchor  at  Gozo,^but  on  the  2 2d  of  June  intelligence  reached 
him  that  the  French  had  left  that  island  on  the  i6th,  the  day 
after  their  arrival.  It  was  clear  that  their  destination  was 
eastward,  — he  thought  for  Egypt,  and  for  Egypt,  therefore,  he 
made  all  sail.  Had  the  frigates  been  with  him  he  could 
scarcely  have  failed  to  gain  information  of  the  enemy ;  for 
want  of  them,  he  only  spoke  three  vessels  on  the  way  :  two 
came  from  Alexandria,  one  from  the  Archipelago,^  and  neither 
of  them  had  seen  anything  of  the  French.  He  arrived  off 
Alexandria  on  the  28th,  and  the  enemy  were  not  there,  neither 
was  there  any  account  of  them ;  but  the  governor  was  endeav- 
oring to  put  the  city  in  a  state  of  defense,  having  received 
advice  from  Leghorn  that  the  French  expedition  was  intended 
against  Egypt,  after  it  had  taken  Malta.  Nelson  then  shaped 
his  course  to  the  northward,  for  Caramania,  and  steered  from 
thence  along  the  southern  side  of  Candia,  carrying  a  press  of 
sail  both  night  and  day,  with  a  contrary  wind. 

It  would  have  been  his  delight,  he  said,  to  have  tried  Bona- 
parte on  a  wind.  It  would  have  been  the  delight  of  Europe, 
too,  and  the  blessing  of  the  world,  if  that  fleet  had  been  over- 
taken with  its  general  on  board.  But  of  the  myriads  and 
'  millions  of  human  beings  who  would  have  been  preserved  by 
that  day's  victory  there  is  not  one  to  whom  such  essential 
benefit  would  have  resulted  as  to  Bonaparte  himself.     It  would 

^  Gozo.  —  A  little  island  to  the  northwest  of  Malta. 
2  Archipelago^  —  The  Aegean  Sea  is  meant,  between  Asia  Minor  and 
Greece. 


94  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

have  spared  him  his  defeat  at  Acre,^  —  his  only  disgrace,  for 
to  have  been  defeated  by  Nelson  upon  the  seas  would  not 
have  been  disgraceful ;  and  it  would  have  spared  him  all  his 
after  enormities.  Hitherto  his  career  had  been  glorious ;  the 
baneful  principles  of  his  heart  had  never  yet  passed  his  lips ; 
history  would  have  represented  him  as  a  soldier  of  fortune, 
who  had  faithfully  served  the  cause  in  which  he  engaged,  and 
whose  career  had  been  distinguished  by  a  series  of  successes 
unexampled  in  modern  times.  A  romantic  obscurity  would 
have  hung  over  the  expedition  to  Egypt,  and  he  would  have 
escaped  the  perpetration  of  those  crimes  which  have  incarna- 
dined his  soul  with  a  deeper  dye  than  that  of  the  purple 
for  which  he  committed  them,  —  those  acts  of  perfidy,  mid- 
night murder,  usurpation,  and  remorseless  tyranny,  which 
have  consigned  his  name  to  universal  execration,  now  and 
forever. 

Conceiving  that  when  an  officer  is  not  successful  in  his  plans 
it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  he  should  explain  the  motives 
upon  which  they  were  founded.  Nelson  wrote  at  this  time  an 
account  and  vindication  of  his  conduct  for  having  carried  the 
fleet  to  Egypt.  The  objection  which  he  anticipated  was,  that 
he  ought  not  to  have  made  so  long  a  voyage  without  more 
certain  information.  "  My  answer,"  said  he,  "  is  ready  :  Who 
was  I  to  get  it  from  ?  The  governments  of  Naples  and  Sicily 
either  knew  not,  or  chose  to  keep  me  in  ignorance.  Was  I  to 
wait  patiently  until  I  heard  certain  accounts  ?  If  Egypt  were 
their  object,  before  I  could  hear  of  them  they  would  have  been 
in  India.  To  do  nothing  was  disgraceful,  therefore  I  made 
use  of  my  understanding.  I  am  before  your  lordships'  judg- 
ment, and  if,  under  all  circumstances,  it  is  decided  that  I  am 

^  Defeat  at  Acre.  —  This  was  the  famous  siege  which  Napoleon  referred 
to  when  he  said  that  Sir  Philip  Sidney  "  had  made  him  miss  his  destiny." 
After  a  siege  of  6i  days  and  a  loss  of  3000  men  Napoleon  was  baffled  by 
the  desperate  resistance  of  the  Turkish  garrison  assisted  by  Sidney. 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  95 

wrong,  I  ought  for  the  sake  of  our  country  to  be  superseded, 
for  at  this  moment,  when  I  know  the  French  are  not  in  Alex- 
andria, I  hold  the  same  opinion  as  off  Cape  Passaro,  —  that, 
under  all  circumstances,  I  was  right  in  steering  for  Alexandria ; 
and  by  that  opinion  I  must  stand  or  fall." 

Captain  Ball,  to  whom  he  showed  this  paper,  told  him  he 
should  recommend  a  friend  never  to  begin  a  defense  of  his 
conduct  before  he  was  accused  of  error  ;  he  might  give  the 
fullest  reasons  for  what  he  had  done,  expressed  in  such  terms 
as  would  evince  that  he  had  acted  from  the  strongest  convic- 
tion of  being  right,  and  of  course  he  must  expect  that  the 
public  would  view  it  in  the  same  light.  Captain  Ball  judged 
rightly  of  the  public,  whose  first  impulses,  though  from  want 
of  sufficient  information  they  must  frequently  be  erroneous,  are 
generally  founded  upon  just  feelings.  But  the  public  are  easily 
misled,  and  there  are  always  persons  ready  to  mislead  them. 
Nelson  had  not  yet  attained  that  fame  which  compels  envy  to 
be  silent,  and  when  it  was  known  in  England  that  he  had 
returned  after  an  unsuccessful  pursuit  it  was  said  that  he 
deserved  impeachment ;  and  Earl  St.  Vincent  was  severely 
censured  for  having  sent  so  young  an  officer  upon  so  important 
a  service. 

Baffled  in  his  pursuit,  he  returned  to  Sicily.  The  Neapolitan 
ministry  had  determined  to  give  his  squadron  no  assistance, 
being  resolved  to  do  nothing  which  could  possibly  endanger 
their  peace  with  the  French  Directory ;  by  means,  however,  of 
Lady  Hamilton's  influence  at  court  he  procured  secret  orders 
to  the  Sicilian  governors,  and  under  those  orders  obtained 
everything  which  he  wanted  at  Syracuse,  —  a  timely  supply, 
without  which,  he  always  said,  he  could  not  have  recom- 
menced his  pursuit  with  any  hope  of  success.  "  I  cannot 
to  this  moment  learn,"  said  he  in  his  letter,  "beyond  vague 
conjecture,  where  the  French  fleet  are  gone  to,  and  having 
gone  a  round   of  six  hundred  leagues  at  this  season  of  the 


96  -        southey's  life  of  nelson. 

year  with  an  expedition  incredible,  here  I  am,  as  ignorant  of 
the  situation  of  the  enemy  as  I  was  twenty-seven  days  ago. 
Every  moment  I  have  to  regret  the  frigates  having  left  me  ; 
had  one-half  of  them  been  with  me  I  could  not  have  wanted 
information.  Should  the  French  be  so  strongly  secured  in 
port  that  I  cannot  get  at  them,  I  shall  immediately  shift 
my  flag  into  some  other  ship,  and  send  the  Vanguard  to 
Naples  to  be  refitted,  for  hardly  any  person  but  myself 
would  have  continued  on  service  so  long  in  such  a  wretched 
state." 

Vexed,  however,  and  disappointed  as  he  was,  Nelson,  with 
the  true  heart  of  a  hero,  was  still  full  of  hope.  ''  Thanks  to 
your  exertions,"  said  he,  writing  to  Sir  William  and  Lady 
Hamilton,  "  we  have  victualed  and  watered  ;  and  surely, 
watering  at  the  fountain  of  Arethusa,  we  must  have  victory. 
We  shall  sail  with  the  first  breeze ;  and  be  assured  I  will 
return  either  crowned  with  laurel  or  covered  with  cypress." 
Earl  St.  Vincent  he  assured  that  if  the  French  were  above 
water  he  would  find  them  out  :  he  still  held  his  opinion  that 
they  were  bound  for  Egypt ;  "  but,"  said  he  to  the  First  Lord 
of  the  Admiralty,  "  be  they  bound  to  the  Antipodes,  your 
lordship  may  rely  that  I  will  not  lose  a  moment  in  bringing 
them  to  action." 

On  the  25th  of  July  he  sailed  from  Syracuse  for  the  Morea. 
Anxious  beyond  measure,  and  irritated  that  the  enemy  should 
so  long  have  eluded  him,  the  tediousness  of  the  nights  made 
him  impatient,  and  the  officer  of  the  watch  was  repeatedly 
called  on  to  let  him  know  the  hour,  and  convince  him,  who 
measured  time  by  his  own  eagerness,  that  it  was  not  yet 
daybreak.  The  squadron  made  the  Gulf  of  Coron  on  the 
28th.  Trowbridge  entered  the  port,  and  returned  with  the 
intelligence  that  the  French  had  been  seen  about  four  weeks 
before  steering  to  the  S.E.  from  Candia.  Nelson  then  deter- 
mined  immediately  to   return  to  Alexandria,  and  the  British 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  97 

fleet  accordingly,  with  every  sail  set,  stood  once  more  for  the 
coast  of  Egypt.  On  the  ist  of  August,  about  ten  in  the 
morning,  they  came  in  sight  of  Alexandria.  The  port  had 
been  vacant  and  solitary  when  they  saw  it  last  ;  it  was  now 
crowded  with  ships,  and  they  perceived  with  exultation  that 
the  tri-color  flag  was  flying  upon  the  walls.  At  four  in  the 
afternoon.  Captain  Hood,  in  the  Zealous^  made  the  signal  for 
the  enemy's  fleet.  For  many  preceding  days  Nelson  had 
hardly  taken  either  sleep  or  food :  he  now  ordered  his  dinner 
to  be  served  while  preparations  were  making  for  battle  ;  and 
when  his  officers  rose  from  the  table  and  went  to  their  separate 
stations  he  said  to  them,  "  Before  this  time  to-morrow,  I  shall 
have  gained  a  peerage  or  Westminster  Abbey." 

The  French,  steering  direct  for  Candia,  had  made  an  angular 
passage  for  Alexandria ;  whereas  Nelson,  in  pursuit  of  them, 
made  straight  for  that  place,  and  thus  materially  shortened  the 
distance.  The  comparative  smallness  of  his  force  made  it 
necessary  to  sail  in  close  order,  and  it  covered  a  less  space 
than  it  would  have  done  if  the  frigates  had  been  with  him  ; 
the  weather  also  was  constantly  hazy.  These  circumstances 
prevented  the  English  from  discovering  the  enemy  on  the  way 
to  Egypt,  though  it  appeared,  upon  examining  the  journals  of 
the  French  officers  taken  in  the  action,  that  the  two  fleets 
must  actually  have  crossed  on  the  night  of  the  2 2d  of  June. 
During  the  return  to  Syracuse  the  chances  of  falling  in  with 
them  were  fewer. 

Why  Bonaparte,  having  effected  his  landing,  should  not  have 
suffered  the  fleet  to  return,  has  never  yet  been  explained. 
Thus  much  is  certain,  that  it  was  detained  by  his  command  ; 
though,  with  his  accustomed  falsehood,  he  accused  Admiral 
Brueys,  after  that  officer's  death,  of  having  lingered  on  the 
coast  contrary  to  orders.  The  French  fleet  arrived  at  Alexan- 
dria on  the  I  St  of  July,  and  Brueys,  not  being  able  to  enter 
the  port,  which  time  and  neglect  had  ruined,  moored  his  ships 


98  SOUTHEY*S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

in  Aboukir  Bay,^  in  a  strong  and  compact  line  of  battle  ;  the 
headmost  vessel,  according  to  his  own  account,  being  as  close 
as  possible  to  a  shoal  on  the  N.W.,  and  the  rest  of  the  fleet 
forming  a  kind  of  curve  along  the  line  of  deep  water,  so  as  not 
to  be  turned  by  any  means  in  the  S.W.  By  Bonaparte's  desire 
he  had  offered  a  reward  of  10,000  livres  to  any  pilot  of  the 
country  who  would  carry  the  squadron  in  ;  but  none  could  be 
found  who  would  venture  to  take  charge  of  a  single  vessel 
drawing  more  than  twenty  feet.  He  had  therefore  made  the 
best  of  his  situation,  and  chosen  the  strongest  position  which 
he  could  possibly  take  in  an  open  road.  The  commissary  of 
the  fleet  said  they  were  moored  in  such  a  manner  as  to  bid 
defiance  to  a  force  more  than  double  their  own.  This  pre- 
sumption could  not  then  be  thought  unreasonable.  Admiral 
Barrington,  when  moored  in  a  similar  manner  off  St.  Lucia,  in 
the  year  1778,  beat  off  the  Comte  d'Estaign  in  three  several 
attacks,  though  his  force  was  inferior  by  almost  one-third  to 
that  which  assailed  it.  Here  the  advantage  of  numbers,  both 
in  ships,  guns,  and  men,  was  in  favor  of  the  French.  They 
had  thirteen  ships  of  the  line  and  four  frigates,  carrying  1196 
guns  and  11,230  men.  The  English  had  the  same  number  of 
ships  of  the  line,  and  one  fifty-gun  ship,  carrying  1012  guns 
and  8068  men.  The  English  ships  were  all  seventy-fours  ;  the 
French  had  three  eighty-gun  ships,  and  one  three-decker  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty. 

During  the  whole  pursuit  it  had  been  Nelson's  practice, 
whenever  circumstances  would  permit,  to  have  his  captains  on 
board  the  Vanguard^  and  explain  to  them  his  own  ideas  of  the 
different  and  best  modes  of  attack,  and  such  plans  as  he  pro- 
posed to  execute  on  falling  in  with  the  enemy,  whatever  their 
situation  might  be.     There  is  no  possible  position,  it  is  said, 

^  Aboukir  Bay.  —  The  battle  of  the  Nile  was  not  fought  in  the  river, 
but  at  some  distance  from  it.  Aboukir  Bay  is  between  Alexandria  and  a 
branch  of  the  Nile. 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  99 

which  he  did  not  take  into  calculation.  His  officers  were  thus 
fully  acquainted  with  his  principles  of  tactics :  and  such  was 
his  confidence  in  their  abilities  that  the  only  thing  determined 
upon,  in  case  they  should  find  the  French  at  anchor,  was  for 
the  ships  to  form  as  most  convenient  for  their  mutual  support, 
and  to  anchor  by  the  stern.  "  First  gain  the  victory,"  he  said, 
"  and  then  make  the  best  use  of  it  you  can.'' 

The  moment  he  perceived  the  position  of  the  French,  that 
intuitive  genius  with  which  Nelson  was  endowed  displayed 
itself,  and  it  instantly  struck  him  that  where  there  was  room 
for  an  enemy's  ship  to  swing  there  was  room  for  one  of  ours 
to  anchor.  The  plan  which  he  intended  to  pursue,  therefore, 
was  to  keep  entirely  on  the  outer  side  of  the  French  line,  and 
station  his  ships,  as  far  as  he  was  able,  one  on  the  outer  bow, 
and  another  on  the  outer  quarter,  of  each  of  the  enemy's. 
This  plan  of  doubling  on  the  enemy's  ships  was  projected  by 
Lord  Hood  when  he  designed  to  attack  the  French  fleet  at 
their  anchorage  in  Gourjean  Road.  Lord  Hood  found  it 
impossible  to  make  the  attempt  ;  but  the  thought  was  not  lost 
upon  Nelson,  who  acknowledged  himself  on  this  occasion 
indebted  for  it  to  his  old  and  excellent  commander.  Captain 
Berry,  when  he  comprehended  the  scope  of  the  design,  exclaimed 
with  transport  :  "  If  we  succeed,^  what  will  the  world  say  ? " 
—  "  There  is  no  i/  in  the  case,"  replied  the  admiral.  **  That 
we  shall  succeed  is  certain  ;  who  may  live  to  tell  the  story,  is  a 
very  different  question." 

As  the  squadron  advanced  they  were  assailed  by  a  shower 
of  shot  and  shells  from  the  batteries  on  the  island,  and  the 
enemy  opened  a  steady  fire  from  the  starboard  side  of  their 
whole  line,  within  half-gunshot  distance,  full  into  the  bows  of 
our  van  ships.  It  was  received  in  silence  ;  the  men  on  board 
every  ship  were  employed  aloft  in  furling  sails,  and  below  in 
tending  the  braces  and  making  ready  for  anchorage. 

^  If  we  succeed,  etc.  —  It  is  claimed  on  good  authority  that  there  is  no 
foundation  of  truth  in  this  incident  as  here  given  by  Southey. 


lOO  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

A  French  brig  was  instructed  to  decoy  the  English  by 
manoeuvring  so  as  to  tempt  th~em  towards  a  shoal  lying  off  the 
island  of  Bekier  ;  but  Nelson  either  knew  the  danger  or  sus- 
pected some  deceit,  and  the  lure  was  unsuccessful.  Captain 
Foley  led  the  way  in  the  Goliath^  outsailing  the  Zealous^  which 
for  some  minutes  disputed  this  post  of  honor  with  him.  He 
had  long  conceived  that  if  the  enemy  were  moored  in  line-of- 
battle  in  with  the  land,  the  best  plan  of  attack  would  be  to 
lead  between  them  and  the  shore,  because  the  French  guns  on 
that  -side  were  not  likely  to  be  manned  nor  even  ready  for 
action.  Intending,  therefore,  to  fix  himself  on  the  inner  bow 
of  the  Guerrier^  he  kept  as  near  the  edge  of  the  bank  as  the 
depth  of  water  would  admit,  but  his  anchor  hung,  and  having 
opened  his  fire,  he  drifted  to  the  second  ship,  the  Conquirant, 
before  it  was  clear,  then  anchored  by  the  stern,  inside  of  her, 
and  in  ten  minutes  shot  away  her  mast.  Hood,  in  the  Zealous, 
perceiving  this,  took  the  station  which  the  Goliath  intended  to 
have  occupied,  and  totally  disabled  the  Guerrier  in  twelve 
minutes.  The  third  ship  which  doubled  the  enemy's  van  was 
the  Orion,  Sir  J.  Saumarez  ;  she  passed  to  windward  of  the 
Zealous,  and  opened  her  larboard  guns  as  long  as  they  bore  on 
the  Guerrier,  then  passing  inside  the  Goliath,  sunk  a  frigate 
which  annoyed  her,  hauled  round  toward  the  French  line,  and 
anchoring  inside,  between  the  fifth  and  sixth  ships  from  the 
Guerrier,  took  her  station  on  the  larboard  bow  of  the  Franklin 
and  the  quarter  of  the  Peuple  Souverain,  receiving  and  return- 
ing the  fire  of  both.  The  sun  was  now  nearly  down.  The 
Audacious,  Captain  Gould,  pouring  a  heavy  fire  into  the 
Guerrier  and  the  Conquerant^  fixed  herself  on  the  larboard 
bow  of  the  latter,  and  when  that  ship  struck,  passed  on  to 
the  Peuple  Souverain.  The  Theseus,  Captain  Miller,  followed, 
brought  down  the  Guerrier"* s  remaining  main  and  mizzen  masts, 
then  anchored  inside  of  the  Spartiate,  the  third  in  the  French 
line. 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  lOI 

While  these  advanced  ships  doubled  the  French  line  the 
Vanguard  was  the  first  that  anchored  on  the  outer  side  of  the 
enemy,  within  half  pistol-shot  of  their  third  ship,  the  Spartiate, 
Nelson  had  six  colors  flying  in  different  parts  of  his  rigging, 
lest  they  should  be  shot  away  —  that  they  should  be  struck  no 
British  admiral  considers  as  a  possibility.  He  veered  half 
a  cable,  and  instantly  opened  a  tremendous  fire,  under  cover  of 
which  the  other  four  ships  of  his  division,  the  Minotaur^  Bellero- 
pkon,  Defence,  and  Majestic,  sailed  on  ahead  of  the  admiral.  In 
a  few  minutes  every  man  stationed  at  the  first  six  guns  in  the 
fore  part  of  the  Vanguard' s  deck  was  killed  or  wounded — these 
guns  were  three  times  cleared.  Captain  Louis,  in  the  Minotaur, 
anchored  next  ahead,  and  took  off  the  fire  of  the  Aquilon,  the 
fourth  in  the  enemy's  line.  The  Bellerophon,  Captain  Darby, 
passed  ahead,  and  dropped  her  stern  anchor  on  the  starboard 
bow  of  the  Orient,  seventh  in  the  line,  Brueys'  own  ship,  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  guns,  whose  difference  of  force  was  in  pro- 
portion of  more  than  seven  to  three,  and  whose  weight  of  ball 
from  the  lower  deck  alone  exceeded  that  from  the  whole  broad- 
side of  the  Bellerophon.  Captain  Peyton,  in  the  Defence,  took 
his  station  ahead  of  the  Minotaur  and  engaged  the  Franklin, 
the  sixth  in  line,  by  which  judicious  movement  the  British  line 
remained  unbroken.  The  Majestic,  Captain  Westcott,  got 
entangled  with  the  main  rigging  of  one  of  the  French  ships 
astern  ofc  the  Orient,  and  suffered  dreadfully  from  that  three- 
decker's^  fire  ;  but  she  swung  clear,  and  closely  engaging  the 
Heureux,  the  ninth  ship  on  the  starboard  bow,  received  also 
the  fire  of  the  Tonnant,  which  was  the  eighth  in  the  line.  The 
other  four  ships  of  the  British  squadron,  having  been  detached 
previous  to  the  discovery  of  the  French,  were  at  a  considerable 
distance  when  the  action  began.  It  commenced  at  half  after 
six ;  about  seven  night  closed,  and  there  was  no  other  light 
than  that  from  the  fire  of  the  contending  fleets. 

Trowbridge,  in  the  Culloden,  then  foremost  of  the  remaining 


I02  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

ships,  was  two  leagues  astern.  He  came  on,  sounding,  as  the 
others  had  done  ;  as  he  advanced  the  increasing  darkness 
increased  the  difficulty  of  the  navigation ;  and  suddenly,  after 
having  found  eleven  fathoms  water,  before  the  lead  could  be 
hove  again  he  was  fast  aground,  nor  could  all  his  own  exertions, 
joined  to  those  of  the  Leander  and  the  Mutine  brig,  which  came 
to  his  assistance,  get  him  off  in  time  to  bear  a  part  in  the 
action.  His  ship,  however,  served  as  a  beacon  to  the  Alexander 
and  Swiftsure,  which  would  else,  from  the  course  which  they 
were  holding,  have  gone  considerably  farther  on  the  reef,  and 
must  inevitably  have  been  lost.  These  ships  entered  the  bay, 
and  took  their  stations  in  the  darkness  in  a  manner  long  spoken 
of  with  admiration  by  all  who  remembered  it. 

Captain  Hallowell,  in  the  Swiftsiire,  as  he  was  bearing  down, 
fell  in  with  what  seemed  to  be  a  strange  sail  :  Nelson  had 
directed  his  ships  to  hoist  four  lights  horizontally  at  the  mizzen 
peak  as  soon  as  it  became  dark,  and  this  vessel  had  no  such 
distinction.  Hallowell,  however,  with  great  judgment,  ordered 
his  men  not  to  fire  :  if  she  was  an  enemy,  he  said,  she  was  in 
too  disabled  a  state  to  escape,  but  from  her  sails  being  loose, 
and  the  way  in  which  her  head  was,  it  was  probable  she  might 
be  an  English  ship.  It  was  the  Bellerophon^  overpowered  by 
the  huge  Orient ;  her  lights  had  gone  overboard,  nearly  200 
of  her  crew  were  killed  or  wounded,  all  her  masts  and  cables 
had  been  shot  away,  and  she  was  drifting  out  of  the  lifetowards 
the  lee  side  of  the  bay.  Her  station  at  this  impdfent  time 
was  occupied  by  the  Swiftsure,  which  opened  a  steady  fire  on 
the  quarter  of  the  Franklin  and  the  bows  of  the  French  admiral. 
At  the  same  instant.  Captain  Ball,  with  the  Alexander^  passed 
under  his  stern,  and  anchored  within  side  on  his  larboard  quar- 
ter, raking  him  and  keeping  up  a  severe  fire  of  musketry  upon 
his  decks. 

The  last  ship  which  arrived  to  complete  the  destruction  of 
the  enemy  was  the  Leaiider.     Captain  Thompson,  finding  that 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  IO3 

nothing  could  be  done  that  night  to  get  off  the  Culloden, 
advanced  with  the  intention  of  anchoring  athwart-hawse  of  the 
Orient,  The  Franklin  was  so  near  her  head  that  there  was 
not  room  for  him  to  pass  clear  of  the  two ;  he  therefore  took 
his  station  athwart-hawse  of  the  latter  in  such  a  position  as  to 
rake  both. 

The  two  first  ships  of  the  French  line  had  been  dismasted 
within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  the  commencement  of  the 
action,  and  the  others  had  in  that  time  suffered  so  severely 
that  victory  was  already  certain.  The  third,  fourth,  and  fifth 
were  taken  possession  of  at  half-past  eight. 

Meantime,  Nelson  received  a  severe  wound  on  the  head  from 
a  piece  of  langridge  shot.  Captain  Berry  caught  him  in  his 
arms  as  he  was  falling.  The  great  effusion  of  blood  occasioned 
an  apprehension  that  the  wound  was  mortal ;  Nelson  himself 
thought  so.  A  large  flap  of  the  skin  of  the  forehead,  cut  from 
the  bone,  had  fallen  over  one  eye  ;  and  the  other  being  blind, 
he  was  in  total  darkness.  When  he  was  carried  down,  the 
surgeon  —  in  the  midst  of  a  scene  scarcely  to  be  conceived  by 
those  who  have  never  seen  a  cock-pit^  in  time  of  action,  and 
the  heroism  which  is  displayed  amid  its  horrors — with  a  natural 
and  pardonable  eagerness,  quitted  the  poor  fellow  then  under 
his  hands  that  he  might  instantly  attend  the  admiral.  "  No  !  " 
said  N^)n,*  I  will  take    my  turn  with  my  brave  fellows." 

Nor^Buld  he  suffer  his  own  wound  to  be  examined  till 
every  iMn  who  had  been  previously  wounded  was  properly 
attendea  to.  Fully  believing  that  the  wound  was  mortal,  and 
that  he  was  about  to  die,  as  he  had  ever  desired,  in  battle  and 
in  victory,  he  called  the  chaplain,  and  desired  him  to  deliver 
what  he  supposed  to  be  his  dying  remembrance  to  Lady  Nelson. 
He  then  sent  for  Captain  Louis  on  board  from  the  Minotaur^ 

^  Cock-pit.  —  A  room  under  the  lower  deck  of  a  man-of-war,  where  sur- 
geons attend  the  wounded. 


I04  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

that  he  might  thank  him  personally  for  the  great  assistance 
which  he  had  rendered  to  the  Vanguard ;  and  ever  mindful  of 
those  who  deserved  to  be  his  friends,  appointed  Captain  Hardy 
from  the  brig  to  the  command  of  his  ow^n  ship,  Captain  Berry 
having  to  go  home  with  the  news  of  the  victory. 

When  the  surgeon  came  in  due  time  to  examine  his  wound 
(for  it  was  in  vain  to  entreat  him  to  let  it  be  examined  sooner) 
the  most  anxious  silence  prevailed,  and  the  joy  of  the  wounded 
men  and  of  the  whole  crew,  when  they  heard  that  the  hurt 
was  merely  superficial,  gave  Nelson  deeper  pleasure  than  the 
unexpected  assurance  that  his  life  was  in  no  danger.  The 
surgeon  requested,  and  as  far  as  he  could,  ordered  him  to 
remain  quiet ;  but  Nelson  could  not  rest.  He  called  for  his 
secretary,  Mr.  Campbell,  to  write  the  dispatches.  Campbell 
had  himself  been  wounded,  and  was  so  affected  at  the  blind 
and  suffering  state  of  the  admiral  that  he  was  unable  to  write. 
The  chaplain  was  then  sent  for,  but  before  he  came.  Nelson, 
with  his  characteristic  eagerness,  took  the  pen  and  contrived 
to  trace  a  few  words,  marking  his  devout  sense  of  the  success 
which  had  already  been  obtained.  He  was  now  left  alone, 
when  suddenly  a  cry  was  heard  on  the  deck  that  the  Orient 
was  on  fire.  In  the  confusion  he  found  his  way  up,  unassisted 
and  unnoticed,  and,  to  the  astonishment  of  every  one,  appeared 
on  the  quarter-deck,  where  he  immediately  gd^^ord^s  that 
boats  should  be  sent  to  the  relief  of  the  enemy.      Hk 

It  was  soon  after  nine  that  the  fire  on  board  the  Ori^^M^^^ 
out.  Brueys  was  dead :  he  had  received  three  wounds,  yet  he 
would  not  leave  his  post ;  a  fourth  cut  him  almost  in  two. 
He  desired  not  to  be  carried  below,  but  to  be  left  to  die  upon 
deck.  The  flames  soon  mastered  his  ship.  Her  sides  had  just 
been  painted,  and  the  oil-jars  and  paint-buckets  were  lying  on 
the  poop.  By  the  prodigious  light  of  this  conflagration  the 
situation  of  the  two  fleets  could  now  be  perceived,  the  colors 
of  both  being  clearly  distinguishable.      About  ten  o'clock  the 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  I  OS 

ship  blew  up  with  a  shock  which  was  felt  to  the  very  bottom 
of  every  vessel.  Many  of  her  officers  and  men  jumped  over- 
board, some  clinging  to  the  spars  and  pieces  of  wreck  with 
which  the  sea  was  strewn,  others  swimming  to  escape  from 
the  destruction  which  they  momentarily  dreaded.  Some  were 
picked  up  by  our  boats,  and  some,  even  in  the  heat  and  fury 
of  the  action,  were  dragged  into  the  lower  ports  of  the  nearest 
British  vessel  by  the  British  sailors.  The  greater  part  of  her 
crew,  however,  stood  the  danger  till  the  last,  and  continued  to 
fire  from  the  lower  deck.  This  tremendous  explosion  was 
followed  by  a  silence  not  less  awful ;  the  firing  immediately 
ceased  pn  both  sides,  and  the  first  sound  which  broke  the 
silence  was  the  dash  of  her  shattered  masts  and  yards  falling 
into  the  water  from  the  vast  height  to  which  they  had  been 
exploded.  It  is  upon  record  that  a  battle  between  two  armies 
was  once  broken  off  by  an  earthquake  ;  such  an  event  would  be 
felt  like  a  miracle ;  but  no  incident  in  war,  produced  by  human 
means,  has  ever  equaled  the  sublimity  of  this  coi'nstantaneous 
pause  and  all  its  circumstances. 

About  seventy  of  the  Orient 's  crew  were  saved  by  the  English 
boats.  Among  the  many  hundreds  who  perished  were  the 
commodore,  Casa-Bianca,  and  his  son,  a  brave  boy,-^  only  ten 
years  old.  They  were  seen  floating  on  a  shattered  mast  when 
the  ship  ble^  uj^  She  had  money  on  board  (the  plunder  of 
Malta)  to  the  arriount  of  ^600,000  sterling.  The  masses  of 
■burning  wreck  which  were  scattered  by  the  explosion  excited 
for  some  moments  apprehensions  in  the  English  which  they 
had  never  felt  from  any  other  danger.  Two  large  pieces  fell 
into  the  main  and  fore  tops  of  the  Swiftsure  without  injuring 


^  A  brave  boy.  —  Every  schoolboy  is  familiar  with  the  poem  written  by 
Mrs.  Hemans  in  honor  of  this  boy: 

"  The  boy  stood  on  the  burning  deck, 
Whence  all  but  he  had  fled." 


io6  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

any  person.  A  port  fire  also  fell  into  the  main-royal  of  the 
Alexander:  the  fire  which  it  occasioned  was  speedily  extin- 
guished. Captain  Ball  had  provided,  as  far  as  human  foresight 
could  provide,  against  any  such  danger.  All  the  shrouds  and 
sails  of  his  ship  not  absolutely  necessary  for  its  immediate 
management,  were  thoroughly  wetted,  and  so  rolled  up  that 
they  were  as  hard  and  as  little  inflammable  as  so  many  solid 
cylinders. 

The  firing  recommenced  with  the  ships  to  leeward  of 
the  center,  and  continued  till  about  three.  At  daybreak  the 
Guillaume  Tell  and  the  Gtnereux^  the  two  rear  ships  of  the 
enemy,  were  the  only  French  ships  of  the  line  which  had  their 
colors  flying ;  they  cut  their  cables  in  the  forenoon,  not  having 
been  engaged,  and  stood  out  to  sea,  and  two  frigates  with  them. 
The  Zealous  pursued,  but  as  there  was  no  other  ship  in  a  con- 
dition to  support  Captain  Hood,  he  was  recalled.  It  was  gen- 
erally believed  by  the  officers  that  if  Nelson  had  not  been 
wounded,  not  one  of  these  ships  could  have  escaped  :  the  four 
certainly  could  not  if  the  Culloden  had  got  into  action  ;  and  if 
the  frigates  belonging  to  the  squadron  had  been  present,  not 
one  of  the  enemy's  fleet  would  have  left  Aboukir  Bay.  These 
four  vessels,  however,  were  all  that  escaped,  and  the  victory 
was  the  most  complete  and  glorious  in  the  annals  of  naval 
history.  **  Victory,"  said  Nelson,  "  is  not  a  name  strong  enough 
for  such  a  scene ; ''  he  called  it  a  conquest. 

Of  thirteen  sail  of  the  line,  nine  were  taken  and  two  burnt ; 
of  the  four  frigates,  one  was  sunk ;  another,  the  Artemise,  was 
burnt  in  a  villainous  manner  by  her  captain,  M.  Estandlet,  who 
having  fired  a  broadside  at  the  Theseus,  struck  his  colors,  then 
set  fire  to  the  ship,  and  escaped  with  most  of  his  crew  to  shore. 
The  British  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  amounted  to  895. 
Westcott  was  the  only  captain  who  fell;  3105  of  the  French, 
including  the  wounded,  were  sent  on  shore  by  cartel,  and  5225 
perished. 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  IO7 

The  victory  was  complete,^  but  Nelson  could  not  pursue  it 
as  he  would  have  done,  for  want  of  means.  Had  he  been 
provided  with  small  craft,  nothing  could  have  prevented  the 
destruction  of  the  store-ships  and  transports  in  the  port  of 
Alexandria ;  four  bomb-vessels  would  at  that  time  have  burnt 
the  whole  in  a  few  hours.  "  Were  I  to  die  this  moment,"  said 
he  in  his  dispatches  to  the  Admiralty,  "  want  of  frigates  would 
be  found  stamped  on  my  heart !  No  words  of  mine  can 
express  what  I  have  suffered  and  am  suffering  for  want  of 
them."  He  had  also  to  bear  up  against  great  bodily  suffering ; 
the  blow  had  so  shaken  Kis  head,  that  from  its  constant  and 
violent  aching,  and  the  perpetual  sickness  which  accompanied 
the  pain,  he  could  scarcely  persuade  himself  that  the  skull  was 
not  fractured.  Had  it  not  been  for  Trowbridge,  Ball,  Hood, 
and  Hallowell,  he  declared  that  he  should  have  sunk  under 
the  fatigue  of  refitting  the  squadron.  ''  All,"  he  said,  *'  had 
done  well ;    but  these  officers  were  his  supporters." 

But  amidst  his  sufferings  and  exertions  Nelson  could  yet 
think  of  all  the  consequences  of  his  victory,  and  that  no 
advantage  from  it  might  be  lost,  he  dispatched  an  officer 
overland  to  India,  with  letters  to  the  governor  of  Bombay, 
informing  him  of  the  arrival  of  the  French  in  Egypt,  the  total 
destruction  of  their  fleet,  and  the  consequent  preservation  of 
India  from  any  attempt  against  it  on  the  part  of  this  formid- 
able armament.  "  He  knew  that  Bombay,"  he  said,  **  was 
their  first  object  if  they  could  get  there  ;  but  he  trusted  that 
Almighty  God  would  overthrow  in  Egypt  these  pests  of  the 

1 "  It  was  this  battle  which  for  two  years  delivered  up  the  Mediterranean 
to  the  power  of  England ;  summoned  thither  the  Russian  squadrons ;  left 
the  French  army  isolated  amidst  a  hostile  population  ;  decided  the  Porte 
in  declaring  against  it ;  saved  India  from  French  enterprise  ;  and  brought 
France  within  a  hair's  breadth  of  her  ruin  by  reviving  the  smouldering 
flames  of  war  with  Austria  and  bringing  Suwarrow  and  the  Austro-Russians 
to  the  French  frontiers."  —  Quoted  from  La  Graviere  by  Pettigrew  from 
Plunkett's  Last  Naval   War. 


io8  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

human  race.  Bonaparte  had  never  yet  had  to  contend  with 
an  English  officer,  and  he  would  endeavor  to  make  him  respect 
us."  This  dispatch  he  sent  upon  his  own  responsibility,  with 
letters  of  credit  upon  the  East  India  Company,  addressed  to 
the  British  consuls,  vice-consuls,  and  merchants  on  his  route  ; 
Nelson  saying,  "  that  if  he  had  done  wrong  he  hoped  the  bills 
would  be  paid,  and  he  would  repay  the  Company ;  for,  as  an 
Englishman,  he  should  be  proud  that  it  had  been  in  his  power 
to  put  our  settlements  on  their  guard."  The  information  which 
by  this  means  reached  India  was  of  great  importance.  Orders 
had  just  been  received  for  defensive  preparations  upon  a  scale 
proportionate  to  the  apprehended  danger,  and  the  extraordinary 
expenses  which  would  otherwise  have  been  incurred  were  thus 
prevented. 

Nelson  was  now  at  the  summit  of  glory ;  congratulations, 
rewards,  and  honors  were  showered  upon  him  by  all  the  states 
and  princes  and  powers  to  whom  his  victory  gave  a  respite. 
The  first  communication  of  this  nature  which  he  received  was 
from  the  Turkish  Sultan,  who,  as  soon  as  the  invasion  of  Egypt 
was  known,  had  called  upon  "  all  true  believers  to  take  arms 
against  those  swinish  infidels,  the  French,  that  they  might 
deliver  these  blessed  habitations  from  their  accursed  hands''; 
and  who  had  ordered  his  "  pashas  to  turn  night  into  day  in 
their  efforts  to  take  vengeance."  The  present  of  "  his  Imperial 
Majesty,  the  powerful,  formidable,  and  most  magnificent  Grand 
Seignior,"  was  a  pelisse  of  sables  with  broad  sleeves,  valued  at 
five  thousand  dollars ;  and  a  diamond  aigrette,  valued  at 
eighteen  thousand  —  the  most  honorable  badge  among  the 
Turks,  and  in  this  instance  more  especially  honorable,  because 
it  was  taken  from  one  of  the  royal  turbans.  "  If  it  were  worth 
a  million,"  said  Nelson  to  his  wife,  "  my  pleasure  would  be  to 
see  it  in  your  possession."  The  Sultan  also  sent,  in  a  spirit 
worthy  of  imitation,  a  purse  of  two  thousand  sequins  to  be  dis- 
tributed amongst  the  wounded.     The  mother  of  the  Sultan  sent 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  IO9 

him  a  box  set  with  diamonds,  valued  at  one  thousand  pounds. 
The  Czar  Paul,  in  whom  the  better  part  of  his  strangely  com- 
pounded nature  at  this  time  predominated,  presented  him  with 
his  portrait  set  in  diamonds,  in  a  gold  box,  accompanied  with 
a  letter  of  congratulation  written  by  his  own  hand.  The  King 
of  Sardinia  also  wrote  to  him,  and  sent  a  gold  box  set  with 
diamonds.  Honors  in  profusion  were  awaiting  him  at  Naples. 
In  his  own  country  the  King  granted  these  honorable 
augmentations  to  his  armorial  ensign :  a  chief  undulated, . 
argent^  thereon  waves  of  the  sea,  from  which  a  palm-tree 
issuant,  between  a  disabled  ship  on  the  dexter  and  a  ruinous 
battery  on  the  sinister,  all  proper;  and  for  his  crest,  on  a  naval 
crown  or^  the  chelengk,  or  plume,  presented  to  him  by  the 
Turk,  with  the  motto,  Palma^n  qui  meruit  ferat}     [Let  him 

^  It  has  been  erroneously  said  that  the  motto  was  selected  by  the  Kingj 
it  was  fixed  on  by  Lord  Grenville,  and  taken  from  an  ode  of  Jortin's.  The 
application  was  singularly  fortunate,  and  the  ode  itself  breathes  a  spirit  in 
which  no  man  ever  more  truly  sympathized  than  Nelson  : 

Concurrant  paribus  cum  ratibus  rates, 
Spectent  numina  ponti,  et 
Palmam  qui  meruit  ferat. 

The  incongruity  of  these  additions  so  greatly  disfigured  them  —  simplicity 
being  the  chief  beauty  of  heraldry  —  that  they  needed  only  the  supporters 
suggested  by  Admiral  Goodall,  two  crocodiles^  to  have  become  if  possible 
even  a  still  more  unfortunate  specimen  of  modern  armory.  Lady  Nelson 
having,  very  naturally,  asked  what  all  these  hieroglyphics  meant,  Sir  Isaac 
Heard  (Garter  King  of  Arms)  gave  her  the  following  explanation,  which 
may  be  as  necessary  to  the  reader  as  to  her  ladyship.  "  In  the  chief  of  the 
arms  a  palm  tree  (emblematic  of  victory)  between  a  disabled  ship  and  a 
ruinous  battery ^  form  striking  memorials  of  the  glorious  event  of  the  ist  of 
August  in  the  bay  of  Aboukir.  In  the  crest,  the  chelengk  is  an  indication 
of  the  distinction  rendered  to  his  lordship's  merits  by  the  Grand  Seignior ; 
and  the  naval  crown  may  bear  a  striking  allusion  to  his  lordship's  victory 
in  those  seas,  where  the  corotta  navalis  was  first  conferred  by  the  Romans 
on  persons  who  had  eminently  distinguished  themselves  in  naval  combats. 
The  pahn  branch  in  the  hand  of  the  sailor,  and  in  the  paw  of  the  lion,  is  a 


no  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

who  has  won  it  bear  the  palm.]  And  to  his  supporters,  being 
a  sailor  on  the  dexter  and  a  lion  on  the  sinister,  were  given 
these  honorable  augmentations :  a  palm  branch  in  the  sailor's 
hand  and  another  in  the  paw  of  the  lion,  both  proper ;  with 
a  tri-colored  flag  and  staff  in  the  lion's  mouth.  He  was  created 
Baron  Nelson  of  the  Nile  and  of  Burnham  Thorpe,  with  a 
pension  of  ^2000  for  his  own  life  and  those  of  his  two 
immediate  successors. 

When  the  grant  was  moved  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
General  Walpole  expressed  an  opinion  that  a  higher  degree  of 
rank  ought  to  be  conferred.  Mr.  Pitt  made  answer  that  he 
thought  it  needless  to  enter  into  that  question.  "  Admiral 
Nelson's  fame,"  he  said,  **  would  be  coequal  with  the  British 
name,  and  it  would  be  remembered  that  he  had  obtained  the 
greatest  naval  victory  on  record,  when  no  man  would  think  of 
asking  whether  he  had  been  created  a  baron,  a  viscount,  or  an 
earl !  "  It  was  strange  that  in  the  very  act  of  conferring  a  title 
the  minister  should  have  excused  himself  for  not  having  con- 
ferred a  higher  one  by  representing  all  titles  on  such  an 
occasion  as  nugatory  and  superfluous.  True,  indeed,  whatever 
title  had  been  bestowed,  whether  viscount,  earl,  marquis,  duke, 
or  prince,  if  our  laws  had  so  permitted,  he  who  received  it 
would  have  been  Nelson  still.  That  name  he  had  ennobled 
beyond  all  addition  of  nobility :  it  was  the  narne  by  which 
England  loved  him,  France  feared  him,  Italy,  Egypt,  and 
Turkey  celebrated  him,  and  by  which  he  will  continue  to  be 
known  while  the  present  kingdoms  and  languages  of  the  world 
endure,  and  as  long  as  their  history  after  them  shall  be  held  in 
remembrance.      It   depended   upon  the   degree  of   rank  what 

continuation  of  the  emblem  in  the  chief  of  the  arms,  as  well  as  allusion  to 
the  motto,  ^  Palm  am  qtci  meruit  fer at.''  The  tri-colored  flag  of  the  subdued 
enemy  was  added  to,  and  involved  with,  the  colors  in  the  mouth  of  the 
lion,  which  had  been  granted  to  his  lordship  in  commemoration  of  his 
distinguished  gallantry  and  services  on  the  14th  February,  1797."  —  Sir 
N.  H.  Nicolas,  Nelson's  Dispatches. 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  Ill 

should  be  the  fashion  of  his  coronet,  in  what  page  of  the  red 
book  ^  his  name  was  to  be  inserted,  and  what  precedency  should 
be  allowed  his  lady  in  the  drawing-room  and  at  the  ball.  That 
Nelson's  honors  were  affected  thus  far  and  no  farther  might 
be  conceded  to  Mr.  Pitt  and  his  colleagues  in  administration  ; 
but  the  degree  of  rank  which  they  thought  proper  to  allot  was 
the  measure  of  their  gratitude,  though  not  of  his  services.^ 
This  Nelson  felt,  and  this  he  expressed  with  indignation  among 
his  friends. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  motives  of  the  Ministry,  and 
whatever  the  formalities  with  which  they  excused  their  conduct 
to  themselves,  the  importance  and  magnitude  of  the  victory 
were  universally  acknowledged.  A  grant  of  ;^i  0,000  was  voted 
to  Nelson  by  the  East  India  Company ;  the  Turkish  Company 
presented  him  with  a  piece  of  plate ;  the  city  of  London  pre- 
sented a  sword  to  him  and  to  each  of  his  captains ;  gold  medals 
were  distributed  to  the  captains,  and  the  first  lieutenants  of  all 
the  ships  were  promoted,  as  had  been  done  after  Lord  Howe's 
victory.^ 

^  Red  book. — A  book  bound  in  red  covers  in  which  the  names  of 
government  officers  were  recorded. 

2  Mr.  Wyndham  must  be  excepted  from  this  well-deserved  censure.  He, 
whose  fate  it  seems  to  have  been  almost  always  to  think  and  feel  more 
generously  than  those  with  whom  he  acted,  declared,  when  he  contended 
against  his  own  party  for  Lord  Wellington's  peerage,  that  he  always 
thought  Lord  Nelson  had  been  inadequately  rewarded.  The  case  was  the 
more  flagrant  because  an  earldom  had  so  lately  been  granted  for  the  battle 
of  St.  Vincent,  —  an  action  which  could  never  be  compared  with«the  battle  of 
the  Nile,  if  the  very  different  manner  in  which  it  was  rewarded  did  not 
necessarily  force  a  comparison,  especially  when  the  part  that  Nelson  bore 
in  it  was  considered.  Lords  Duncan  and  St.  Vincent  had  each  a  pension  of 
;^iooo  from  the  Irish  government.  This  was  not  granted  to  Nelson,  in 
consequence  of  the  Union  ;  though  surely  it  would  be  more  becoming  to 
increase  the  British  grant  than  to  save  a  thousand  a  year  by  the  Union  in 
such  cases. 

^  Lord  Howe's  Victory.  —  A  great  victory  over  the  French  was  gained 
off  Ushaut,  by  Lord  Howe,  in  1794. 


112  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

Nelson  was  exceedingly  anxious  that  the  captain  and  first 
lieutenant  of  the  Culloden  should  not  be  passed  over  because  of 
their  misfortune.  To  Trowbridge  himself  he  said :  "  Let  us 
rejoice  that  the  ship  which  got  on  shore  was  commanded  by  an 
officer  whose  character  is  so  thoroughly  established."  To  the 
Admiralty  he  stated  that  Captain  Trowbridge's  conduct  was  as 
fully  entitled  to  praise  as  that  of  any  one  officer  in  the  squadron, 
and  as  highly  deserving  of  reward.  "  It  was  Trowbridge,"  said 
he,  "  who  equipped  the  squadron  so  soon  at  Syracuse ;  it  was 
Trowbridge  who  exerted  himself  for  me  after  the  action ;  it  was 
Trowbridge  who  saved  the  Culloden^  when  none  that  I  know  in 
the  service  would  have  attempted  it."  The  gold  medal,  there- 
fore, by  the  King's  desire,  was  given  to  Captain  Trowbridge, 
"  for  his  services  both  before  and  since,  and  for  the  great  and 
wonderful  exertion  which  he  made  at  the  time  of  the  action  in 
saving  and  getting  off  his  ship." 

The  private  letter  from  the  Admiralty  to  Nelson  informed 
him  that  the  first  lieutenants  of  the  ships  engaged  were  to  be 
promoted.  Nelson  instantly  wrote  to  the  commander-in-chief. 
''  I  sincerely  hope,"  he  said,  "  this  is  not  intended  to  exclude 
the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Culloden,  For  heaven's  sake  —  for  my 
sake  —  if  it  be  so,  get  it  altered.  Our  dear  friend  Trowbridge 
has  endured  enough.  His  sufferings  were  in  every  respect 
more  than  any  of  us."  To  the  Admiralty  he  wrote  in  terms 
equally  warm :  "  I  hope  and  believe  the  word  engaged  is  not 
intended  to  exclude  the  Culloden.  The  merit  of  that  ship  and 
her  gallaftt  captain  are  too  well  known  to  benefit  by  anything  I 
could  say.  Her  misfortune  was  great  in  getting  aground  while 
her  more  fortunate  companions  were  in  the  full  tide  of  happi- 
ness. No,  I  am  confident  that  my  good  Lord  Spencer  will 
never  add  misery  to  misfortune.  Captain  Trowbridge  on  shore 
is  superior  to  captains,  afloat ;  in  the  midst  of  his  great  mis- 
fortunes he  made  those  signals  which  prevented  certainly  the 
Alexaitder  and  Swiftsure  from  running  on  the  shoals.     I  beg 


THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    NILE.  II3 

your  pardon  for  writing  on  a  subject  which,  I  verily  believe, 
has  never  entered  your  lordship's  head  ;  but  my  heart,  as  it 
ought  to  be,  is  warm  to  my  gallant  friends."  Thus  feelingly 
alive  was  Nelson  to  the  claims  and  interests  and  feelings  of 
others.  The  Admiralty  replied  that  the  exception  was  neces- 
sary, as  the  ship  had  not  been  in  action ;  but  they  desired  the 
commander-in-chief  to  promote  the  lieutenant  upon  the  first 
vacancy  which  should  occur. 

Nelson,  in  remembrance  of  an  old  and  uninterrupted  friend- 
ship, appointed  Alexander  Davison  sole  prize-agent  for  the 
captured  ships;  upon  which  Davison  ordered  medals  to  be 
struck  in  gold  for  the  captains,  in  silver  for  the  lieutenants  and 
warrant  officers,  in  gilt  metal  for  petty  officers,  and  in  copper 
for  the  seamen  and  marines.  The  cost  of  this  act  of  liberality 
amounted  nearly  to  ;^2ooo.  It  is  worthy  of  record  on  another 
account,  for  some  of  the  gallant  men,  who  received  no  other 
honorary  badge  on  that  memorable  day  than  this  copper  medal 
from  a  private  individual,  years  afterwards,  when  they  died 
upon  a  foreign  station,  made  it  their  last  request  that  the 
medals  might  carefully  be  sent  home  to  their  respective  friends. 
So  sensible  are  brave  men  of  honor,  in  whatever  rank  they  may 
be  placed. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY. 

NELSON'S  health  had  suffered  greatly  while  he  was  in  the 
Agamemnon,  ''  My  complaint,"  he  said,  "  is  as  if  a  girth 
were  buckled  taut  over  my  breast,  and  my  endeavor  in  the 
night  is  to  get  it  loose."  After  the  battle  of  Cape  St.  Vincent 
he  felt  a  little  rest  to  be  so  essential  to  his  recovery  that  he 
declared  he  would  not  continue  to  serve  longer  than  the  ensuing 
summer,  unless  it  should  be  absolutely  necessary ;  for,  in  his 
own  strong  language,  he  had  then  been  four  years  and  nine 
months  without  one  moment's  repose  for  body  or  mind.  A  few 
months'  intermission  of  labor  he  had  obtained  —  not  of  rest, 
for  it  was  purchased  with  the  loss  of  a  limb ;  and  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  had  been  a  season  of  constant  pain.  As  soon 
as  his  shattered  frame  had  sufficiently  recovered  for  him  to 
resume  his  duties,  he  was  called  to  services  of  greater  impor- 
tance than  any  on  which  he  had  hitherto  been  employed,  and 
they  brought  with  them  commensurate  fatigue  and  care. 

The  anxiety  which  he  endured  during  his  long  pursuit  of 
the  enemy  was  rather  changed  in  its  direction  than  abated  by 
their  defeat ;  and  this  constant  wakefulness  of  thought,  added 
to  the  effect  of  his  wound,  and  the  exertions  from  which  it 
was  not  possible  for  one  of  so  ardent  and  wide-reaching  a  mind 
to  spare  himself,  nearly  proved  fatal.  On  his  way  back  to 
Italy  he  was  seized  with  fever.  For  eighteen  hours  his  life 
was  despaired  of ;  and  even  when  the  disorder  took  a  favorable 
turn,  and  he  was  so  far  recovered  as  again  to  appear  on  deck, 
he  himself  thought  that  his  end  was  approaching  —  such  was 
the  weakness  to  which  the  fever  and  cough  had  reduced  him. 


FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  I  I  5 

Writing  to  Earl  St.  Vincent  on  the  passage,  he  said  tcr  him  :  *'  I 
never  expect,  my  dear  lord,  to  see  your  face  again.  It  may 
please  God  that  this  will  be  the  finish  to  that  fever  of  anxiety 
which  I  have  endured  from  the  middle  of  June ;  but  be  that  as 
it  pleases  His  goodness.     I  am  resigned  to  His  will.'^ 

The  kindest  attentions  of  the  warmest  friendship  were  await- 
ing him  at  Naples.  "  Come  here,  my  dear  friend,'^  said  Sir 
William  Hamilton,  "  as  soon  as  the  service  will  permit  you. 
A  pleasant  apartment  is  ready  for  you  in  my  house,  and  Emma 
is  looking  out  for  the  softest  pillows  to  repose  the  few  wearied 
limbs  you  have  left."  Happy  would  it  have  been  for  Nelson  if 
warm  and  careful  friendship  had  been  all  that  awaited  him 
there !  He  himself  saw  at  that  time  the  character  of  the 
Neapolitan  Court,  as  it  first  struck  an  Englishman,  in  its  true 
light,  and  when  he  was  on  the  way  he  declared  that  he 
detested  the  voyage  to  Naples,  and  that  nothing  but  necessity 
could  have  forced  him  to  it.  But  never  was  any  hero  on  his 
return  from  victory  welcomed  with  more  heartfelt  joy.  Before 
the  battle  of  Aboukir  the  Court  of  Naples  had  been  trembling 
for  its  existence.  The  language  which  the  Directory  held 
towards  it  was  well  described  by  Sir  William  Hamilton  as 
being  exactly  the  language  of  a  highwayman.  The  Neapolitans 
were  told  that  Benevento  might  be  added  to  their  dominions, 
provided  they  would  pay  a  large  sum,  sufficient  to  satisfy  the 
Directory;  and  they  were  warned  that  if  the  proposal  were 
refused,  or  even  if  there  were  any  delay  in  accepting  it,  the 
French  would  revolutionize  all  Italy. 

The  joy,  therefore,  of  the  Court  at  Nelson's  success  was  in 
proportion  to  the  dismay  from  which  that  success  relieved 
them.  The  queen  was  a  daughter  of  Maria  Theresa  and  sister 
of  Marie  Antoinette.  Had  she  been  the  wisest  and  gentlest  of 
her  sex,  it  would  not  have  been  possible  for  her  to  have 
regarded  the  French  without  hatred  and  horror;  and  the 
progress    of    revolutionary    opinions,     while     it     perpetually 


ii6  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

reminded  her  of  her  sister's  fate,  excited  no  unreasonable 
apprehensions  for  her  own.  Her  feelings,  naturally  ardent 
and  little  accustomed  to  restraint,  were  excited  to  the  highest 
pitch  when  the  news  of  the  victory  arrived.  Lady  Hamilton, 
her  constant  friend  and  favorite,  who  was  present,  says:  "It  is 
not  possible  to  describe  her  transports.  She  wept,  she  kissed 
her  husband,  her  children,  walked  frantically  about  the  room, 
burst  into  tears  again,  and  again  kissed  and  embraced  every 
person  near  her,  exclaiming,  'O  brave  Nelson  !  O  God,  bless 
and  protect  our  brave  deliverer  !  O  Nelson  !  Nelson  !  what  do 
we  not  owe  you  !  O  conqueror — saviour  of  Italy!  O  that  my 
swollen  heart  could  now  tell  him  personally  what  we  owe  to  him.' " 

Such  being  the  feelings  of  the  royal  family,  it  may  well  be 
supposed  with  what  delight  and  with  what  honors  Nelson 
would  be  welcomed.  Early  on  the  2 2d  of  September  the  poor 
wretched  Vanguard^  as  he  called  his  shattered  vessel,  appeared 
in  sight  of  Naples.  The  Culloden  and  Alexander  had  preceded 
her  by  some  days,  and  given  notice  of  her  approach.  Many 
hundred  boats  and  barges  were  ready  to  go  forth  and  meet 
him,  with  music  and  streamers  and  every  demonstration  of  joy 
and  triumph.  Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamilton  led  the  way  in 
their  state  barge.  They  had  seen  Nelson  only  for  a  few  days 
four  years  ago,  but  they  then  perceived  in  him  that  heroic 
spirit  which  was  now  so  fully  and  gloriously  manifested  to  the 
world.  Emma,  Lady  Hamilton,  who  from  this  time  so  greatly 
influenced  his  future  life,  was  a  woman  whose  personal  accom- 
plishments have  seldom  been  equaled,  and  whose  powers  of 
mind  were  not  less  fascinating  than  her  person.  She  was  pas- 
sionately attached  to  the  queen,  and  by  her  influence  the 
British  fleet  had  obtained  those  supplies  at  Syracuse  without 
which,  Nelson  always  asserted,  the  battle  of  Aboukir  could  not 
have  been  fought. 

During  the  long  interval  which  passed  before  any  tidings 
were  received  her  anxiety  had  been  hardly  less  than  that  of 


FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  I  1 7 

Nelson  himself,  while  pursuing  an  enemy  of  whom  he  could 
obtain  no  information  ;  and  when  the  tidings  were  brought 
her  by  a  joyful  bearer  open-mouthed,  its  effect  was  such  that 
she  felt  Hke  one  who  had  been  shot.  She  and  Sir  William  had 
literally  been  made  ill  by  their  hopes  and  fears  and  joy,  at  a 
catastrophe  so  far  exceeding  all  that  they  had  dared  to  hope 
for.  Their  admiration  for  the  hero  necessarily  produced  a 
degree  of  proportionate  gratitude  and  affection;  and  when  their 
barge  came  alongside  the  Vanguard^  at  the  sight  of  Nelson 
Lady  Hamilton  almost  fainted,  and  came  on  deck  more  like  one 
dead  than  alive.  He  described  the  meeting  as  "  terribly  affect- 
ing.^'  These  friends  had  scarcely  recovered  from  their  tears 
when  the  king,  who  went  out  to  meet  him  three  leagues  in  the 
royal  barge,  came  on  board  and  took  him  by  the  hand,  calling 
him  his  deliverer  and  preserver  ;  from  all  the  boats  around  he 
was  saluted  with  the  same  appellations  ;  the  multitude  who 
surrounded  him  when  he  landed  repeated  the  same  enthusiastic 
cries  ;  and  the  lazzaroni  displayed  their  joy  by  holding  up  birds 
in  cages,  and  giving  them  their  liberty  as  he  passed. 

His  birthday,  which  occurred  a  week  after  his  arrival,  was 
celebrated  with  one  of  the  most  splendid /^/^j-  ever  beheld  at 
Naples. 

The  battle  of  the  Nile  shook  the  power  of  France.  Her 
most  successful  general  and  her  finest  army  were  blocked  up 
in  Egypt  —  hopeless,  as  it  appeared,  of  return ;  and  the  gov- 
ernment was  in  the  hands  of  men  without  talents,  without 
character,  and  divided  among  themselves.  Austria,  whom 
Bonaparte  had  terrified  into  a  peace  at  a  time  when  constancy 
on  her  part  would  probably  have  led  to  his  destruction,  took 
advantage  of  the  crisis  to  renew  the  war.  Russia  also  was 
preparing  to  enter  the  field  with  unbroken  forces,  led  by  a 
general  whose  extraordinary  military  genius  ^  would  have  en- 

^  Military  genius.  —  Suwarrow,  the  celebrated  Russian  general  (1730- 
1800).     It  is  said  that  he  never  lost  a  battle. 


ii8  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

titled  him  to  a  high  and  honorable  rank  in  history  if  it  had  not 
been  sullied  by  all  the  ferocity  of  a  barbarian.  Naples,  see- 
ing its  destruction  at  hand,  and  thinking  that  the  only  means 
of  averting  it  was  by  meeting  the  danger,  after  long  vacilla- 
tions, which  were  produced  by  the  fears  and  weakness  and 
treachery  of  its  council,  agreed  at  last  to  join  this  new  coali- 
tion ^  with  a  numerical  force  of  80,000  men. 

Nelson  told  the  king  in  plain  terms  that  he  had  his  choice 
either  to  advance,  trusting  to  God  for  His  blessing  on  a  just 
cause,  and  prepared  to  die  sword  in  hand ;  or  to  remain  quiet 
and  be  kicked  out  of  his  kingdom:  one  of  these  things  must 
happen.  The  king  made  answer  he  would  go  on,  and  trust  in 
God  and  Nelson  ;  and  Nelson,  who  would  else  have  returned 
to  Egypt  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  French  shipping  in 
Alexandria,  gave  up  his  intention  at  the  desire  of  the  Neapo- 
litan Court,  and  resolved  to  remain  on  that  station  in  the  hope 
that  he  might  be  useful  to  the  movements  of  the  army.  He 
suspected  also,  with  reason,  that  the  continuance  of  his  fleet 
was  so  earnestly  requested  because  the  royal  family  thought 
their  persons  would  be  safer,  in  case  of  any  mishap,  under  the 
British  flag  than  under  their  own. 

His  first  object  was  the  recovery  of  Malta,  an  island  which 
the  King  of  Naples  pretended  to  claim.  The  Maltese,  whom 
the  villainous  knights  of  their  order  ^  had  betrayed  to  France, 
had  taken  up  arms  against  their  rapacious  invaders  with  a 
spirit  and  unanimity  worthy  the  highest  praise.  They  blockaded 
the  French  garrison  by  land,  and  a  small  squadron  under  Cap- 
tain Ball  began  to  blockade  them  by  sea  on  the  12  th  of  October. 

1  New  coalition.  —  This  is  known  as  Pitt's  second  coalition,  signed 
June  22,  1799,  between  England,  Russia,  Germany,  Naples,  Portugal,  and 
Turkey. 

2  Knights  of  their  order.  —  The  Knights  of  St.  John,  afterward  known 
as  the  Knights  of  Malta.  The  island  of  Malta  was  given  to  them  by 
Charles  V.  in  1530.  They  surrendered  their  island  to  Napoleon  in  1798 
without  resistance.     Hence  the  force  here  of  the  epithet  villainous. 


FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  II g 

Twelve  days  afterwards  Nelson  arrived,  and  the  little  island 
of  Gozo,  dependent  upon  Malta,  which  had  also  been  seized 
and  garrisoned  by  the  French,  capitulated  soon  after  his  arrival, 
and  was  taken  possession  of  by  the  British  in  the  name  of  his 
Sicilian  Majesty,  —  a  power  who  had  no  better  claim  to  it  than 
France.  Having  seen  this  effected  and  reinforced  Captain 
Ball,  he  left  that  able  officer  to  perform  a  most  arduous  and 
important  part,  and  returned  himself  to  cooperate  with  the 
intended  movements  of  the  Neapolitans. 

General  Mack  was  at  the  head  of  the  Neapolitan  troops. 
All  that  is  now  doubtful  concerning  this  man  is  whether  he 
was  a  coward  or  a  traitor:  at  that  time  he  was  assiduously 
extolled  as  a  most  consummate  commander,  to  whom  Europe 
might  look  for  deliverance  ;  and  when  he  was  introduced  by 
the  king  and  queen  to  the  British  admiral,  the  queen  said  to 
him,  "  Be  to  us  by  land,  general,  what  my  hero  Nelson  has 
been  by  sea."  Mack  on  his  part  did  not  fail  to  praise  the  force 
which  he  was  appointed  to  command;  "It  was,"  he  said,  **  the 
finest  army  in  Europe."  Nelson  agreed  wit^  him  that  there 
could  not  be  finer  men ;  but  when  the  general,  at  a  review,  so 
directed  the  operations  of  a  mock  fight  that  by  an  unhappy 
blunder  his  own  troops  were  surrounded  instead  of  those  of  the 
enemy,  he  turned  to  his  friends,  and  exclaimed  with  bitterness 
that  the  fellow  did  not  understand  his  business.  Another  cir- 
cumstance, not  less  characteristic,  confirmed  Nelson  in  his  judg- 
ment. "  General  Mack,"  said  he  in  one  of  his  letters,  *'  cannot 
move  without  five  carriages  !  I  have  formed  my  opinion.  I 
heartily  pray  I  may  be  mistaken." 

While  Mack  at  the  head  of  32,000  men  marched  into  the 
Roman  state,  5000  Neapolitans  were  embarked  on  board  the 
British  and  Portuguese  squadron  to  take  possession  of  Leghorn. 
This  was  effected  without  opposition,  and  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Tuscany,  whose  neutrality  had  been  so  outrageously  violated 
by  the  French,  was  better  satisfied  with  the  measure  than  some 


I20  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

of  the  Neapolitans  themselves.  Naselli,  their  general,  refused 
to  seize  the  French  vessels  at  Leghorn,  because  he  and  the 
Duke  di  Sangro,  who  was  ambassador  at  the  Tuscan  Court, 
maintained  that  the  King  of  Naples  was  not  at  war  with 
France.  *'  What ! ''  said  Nelson,  "  has  not  the  king  received,  as 
a  conquest  made  by  him,  the  republican  flag  taken  at  Gozo  ? 
Is  not  his  own  flag  flying  there  and  at  Malta,  not  only  by  his 
permission,  but  by  his  order  ?  Is  not  his  flag  shot  at  every 
day  by  the  French,  and  their  shot  returned  from  batteries 
which  bear  that  flag  ?  Are  not  two  frigates  and  a  corvette 
placed  under  my  orders  ready  to  fight  the  French,  meet  them 
where  they  may  ?  Has  not  the  king  sent  publicly  from  Naples 
guns,  mortars,  etc.,  with  officers  and  artillery,  against  the  French 
in  Malta  ?  If  these  acts  are  not  tantamount  to  any  written 
paper,  I  give  up  all  knowledge  of  what  is  war." 

This  reasoning  was  of  less  avail  than  argument  addressed  to 
the  general's  fears.  Nelson  told  him  that  if  he  permitted  the 
many  hundred  French  who  were  then  in  the  mole  to  remain 
neutral  till  they  had  a  fair  opportunity  of  being  active,  they 
had  one  sure  resource  if  all  other  schemes  failed,  which  was  to 
set  one  vessel  on  fire  ;  the  mole  would  be  destroyed,  probably 
the  town  also,  and  the  port  ruined  for  twenty  years.  This 
representation  made  Naselli  agree  to  the  half-measure  of  laying 
an  embargo  on  the  vessels ;  among  them  were  a  great  number 
of  French  privateers,  some  of  which  were  of  such  force  as  to 
threaten  the  greatest  mischief  to  our  commerce,  and  about 
seventy  sail  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  Ligurian  Republic,  as 
Genoa  was  now  called,  laden  with  corn  and  ready  to  sail  for 
Genoa  and  France,  where  their  arrival  would  have  expedited 
the  entrance  of  more  French  troops  into  Italy. 

"  The  general,"  said  Nelson,  "  saw,  I  believe,  the  conse- 
quence of  permitting  these  vessels  to  depart  in  the  same  light 
as  myself  ;  but  there  is  this  difference  between  us,  —  he  pru- 
dently, and  certainly  safely,  waits  the  orders  of  his  Court,  tak- 


FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  121 

ing  no  responsibility  upon  himself ;  I  act  from  the  circumstances 
of  the  moment  as  I  feel  may  be  most  advantageous  for  the 
cause  which  I  serve,  taking  all  responsibility  on  myself." 

It  was  in  vain  to  hope  for  anything  vigorous  or  manly  from 
such  men  as  Nelson  was  compelled  to  act  with.  The  crews  of 
the  French  ships  and  their  allies  were  ordered  to  depart  in  two 
days.  Four  days  elapsed,  and  nobody  obeyed  the  order;  nor  in 
spite  of  the  representations  of  the  British  minister,  Mr.  Wynd- 
ham,  were  any  means  taken  to  enforce  it.  The  true  Neapolitan 
shuffle,  as  Nelson  called  it,  took  place  on  all  occasions.  After 
an  absence  of  ten  days  he  returned  to  Naples,  and  receiving 
intelligence  there  from  Mr.  Wyndham  that  the  privateers  were 
at  last  to  be  disarmed,  the  corn  landed,  and  the  crews  sent 
away,  he  expressed  satisfaction  at  the  news  in  characteristic 
language,  saying,  "  So  far  I  am  content.  The  enemy  will  be 
distressed,  and,  thank  God,  I  shall  get  no  money.  The  world, 
I  know,  thinks  that  money  is  our  god,  and  now  they  will  be 
undeceived  as  far  as  relates  to  us." 

Odes,  sonnets,  and  congratulatory  poems  of  every  description 
were  poured  in  upon  Nelson  on  his  arrival  at  Naples.  An 
Irish  Franciscan,  who  was  one  of  the  poets,  not  being  content 
with  panegyric,  upon  this  occasion  ventured  upon  a  flight  of 
prophecy,  and  predicted  that  Lord  Nelson  would  take  Rome 
with  his  ships.  His  lordship  reminded  Father  M'Cormick  that 
ships  could  not  ascend  the  Tiber ;  but  the  father,  who  had 
probably  forgotten  this  circumstance,  met  the  objection  with  a 
bold  front,  and  declared  he  saw  that  it  would  come  to  pass 
notwithstanding. 

Rejoicings  of  this  kind  were  of  short  duration.  The  King 
of  Naples  was  with  the  army  which  had  entered  Rome,  but  the 
castle  of  St.  Angelo  was  held  by  the  French,  and  13,000 
French  were  strongly  posted  in  the  Roman  States  at  Castal- 
lana.  Mack  had  marched  against  them  with  20,000  men. 
Nelson  saw  that  the  event  was  doubtful,  or  rather  that  there 


122  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

could  be  very  little  hope  of  the  result.  But  the  immediate 
fate  of  Naples,  as  he  well  knew,  hung  upon  the  issue.  "  If 
Mack  is  defeated,"  said  he,  ''  in  fourteen  days  this  country  is 
lost,  for  the  emperor  has  not  yet  moved  his  army,  and  Naples 
has  not  the  power  of  resisting  the  enemy." 

His  fears  were  soon  verified.  "  The  Neapolitan  officers," 
said  Nelson,  **  did  not  lose  much  honor,  for  God  knows  they 
had  not  much  to  lose ;  but  they  lost  all  they  had."  General 
St.  Philip  commanded  the  right  wing  of  19,000  men.  He  fell 
in  with  3000  of  the  enemy,  and  as  soon  as  he  came  near  enough 
deserted  to  them.  One  of  his  men  had  virtue  enough  to  level 
a  musket  at  him,  and  shot  him  through  the  arm  ;  but  the  wound 
was  not  sufficient  to  prevent  him  from  joining  with  the  French 
in  pursuit  of  his  own  countrymen.  Cannon,  tents,  baggage, 
and  military  chest  were  all  forsaken  by  the  runaways,  though 
they  lost  only  forty  men  ;  for  the  French,  having  put  them  to 
flight  and  got  possession  of  everything,  did  not  pursue  an  army 
of  more  than  three  times  their  own  number.  The  main  body 
of  the  Neapolitans,  under  Mack,  did  not  behave  better.  The 
king  returned  to  Naples,  where  every  day  brought  with  it  the 
tidings  of  some  new  disgrace  from  the  army,  and  the  discovery 
of  some  new  treachery  at  home  ;  till  four  days  after  his  return, 
the  general  sent  him  advice  that  there  was  no  prospect  of 
stopping  the  progress  of  the  enemy,  and  that  the  royal  family 
must  look  to  their  own  personal  safety. 

On  the  night  of  the  21st,  at  half  past  eight.  Nelson  landed, 
brought  out  the  whole  of  the  royal  family,  embarked  them  in 
three  barges,  and  carried  them  safely  through  a  tremendous  sea 
to  the  Vanguard,  Notice  was  then  immediately  given  to  the 
British  merchants  that  they  would  be  received  on  board  any  ' 
ship  in  the  squadron.  Their  property  had  been  previously 
embarked  in  transports.  Two  days  were  passed  in  the  bay,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  such  persons  on  board  as  required  an 
asylum  ;  and  on  the  night  of  the  23d  the  fleet  sailed.     The  next   , 


FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  1 23 

day  a  more  violent  storm  arose  than  Nelson  had  ever  before 
encountered.  On  the  25th  the  youngest  of  the  princes  was 
taken  ill,  and  died  in  Lady  Hamilton's  arms.  During  this 
whole  trying  season  Lady  Hamilton  waited  upon  the  royal 
family  with  the  zeal  of  the  most  devoted  servant,  at  a  time  when, 
except  one  man,  no  person  belonging  to  the  Court  assisted  them. 

On  the  morning  of  the  26th  the  royal  family  were  landed  at 
Palermo. 

The  King  of  Sardinia,  finding  it  impossible  longer  to  endure 
the  exactions  of  France  and  the  insults  of  the  French  commis- 
sary, went  to  Leghorn,  embarked  on  board  a  Danish  frigate, 
and  sailed  under  British  protection  to  Sardinia  —  that  part  of 
his  dominions  which  the  maritime  supremacy  of  England 
rendered  a  secure  asylum.  On  his  arrival  he  published  a 
protest  against  the  conduct  of  France,  declaring,  upon  the  faith 
and  word  of  a  king,  that  he  had  never  infringed,  even  in  the 
slightest  degree,  the  treaties  which  he  had  made  with  the  French 
Republic. 

Tuscany  was  soon  occupied  by  French  troops  ;  a  fate  which 
bolder  policy  might  perhaps  have  failed  to  avert,  but  which  its 
weak  and  timid  neutrality  rendered  inevitable.  Nelson  began 
to  fear  even  for  Sicily.  *'  Oh,  my  dear  sir,"  said  he,  writing  to 
Commodore  Duckworth,  *'  one  thousand  English  troops  would 
save  Messina,  and  I  fear  General  Stuart  cannot  give  me 
men  to  save  this  most  important  island !  "  But  his  represen- 
tations wer-e  not  lost  upon  Sir  Charles  Stuart :  this  officer 
hastened  immediately  from  Minorca  with  a  thousand  men, 
assisted  in  the  measures  of  defense  which  were  taken,  and 
did  not  return  before  he  had  satisfied  himself  that,  if  the 
Neapolitans  were  excluded  from  the  management  of  affairs,  and 
the  spirit  of  the  peasantry  properly  directed,  Sicily  was  safe. 
Before  his  coming,  Nelson  had  offered  the  king,  if  no  resources 
should  arrive,  to  defend  Messina  with  a  ship's  company  of  an 
Enp^lish  man-of-war. 


1 24  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

Russia  had  now  entered  into  the  war.  Corfu  surrendered 
to  a  Russian  and  Turkish  fleet,  acting  now  for  the  first  time  in 
strange  confederacy,  yet  against  a  power  which  was  certainly 
the  common  and  worst  enemy  of  both.  Trowbridge  having 
given  up  the  blockade  of  Alexandria  to  Sir  Sydney  Smith, 
joined  Nelson,  bringing  with  him  a  considerable  addition  of 
strength  ;  and  in  himself,  what  Nelson  valued  more,  a  man 
upon  whose  sagacity,  indefatigable  zeal,  and  inexhaustible 
resources  he  could  place  full  reliance.  Trowbridge  was  in- 
structed to  commence  the  operations  against  the  French  in  the 
Bay  of  Naples ;  meantime  Cardinal  Ruffo,  a  man  of  question- 
able character,  but  of  a  temper  fitted  for  such  times,  having 
landed  in  Calabria,  raised  what  he  called  a  Christian  army, 
composed  of  the  best  and  vilest  materials,  —  loyal  peasants, 
enthusiastic  priests  and  friars,  galley  slaves,  the  emptying  of 
the  jails,  and  banditti.  The  islands  in  the  Bay  of  Naples  were 
joyfully  delivered  up  by  the  inhabitants,  who  were  in  a  state 
of  famine  already  from  the  effect  of  this  baleful  revolution. 
Trowbridge  distributed  among  them  all  his  flour ;  and  Nelson 
pressed  the  Sicilian  Court  incessantly  for  supplies,  telling  them 
that  ;^i  0,000  given  away  in  provisions  would  at  this  time 
purchase  a  kingdom.  Money,  he  was  told,  they  had  not  to 
give ;  and  the  wisdom  and  integrity  which  might  have  supplied 
its  want  were  not  to  be  found.  ''  There  is  nothing,"  said  he, 
*'  which  I  propose  that  is  not,  as  far  as  orders  go,  implicitly 
complied  with ;  but  the  execution  is  dreadful,  and  almost 
makes  me  mad.  My  desire  to  serve  their  Majesties  faithfully, 
as  is  my  duty,  has  been  such  that  I  am  almost  blind  and  worn 
out,  and  cannot  in.  my  present  state  hold  much  longer." 

About  this  time  intelligence  arrived  that  the  French  fleet  had 
escaped  from  Brest  under  cover  of  a  fog,  passed  Cadiz,  unseen 
by  Lord  Keith's  squadron,  in  hazy  weather,  and  entered  the 
Mediterranean.  It  was  said^  to  consist  of  twenty-four  sail  of 
the  line,  six  frigates,   and  three   sloops.     The   object  of  the 


FIGHTING   THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  1 25 

French  was  to  liberate  the  Spanish  fleet,  form  a  junction  with 
them,  act  against  Minorca  and  Sicily,  and  overpower  our  naval 
force  in  the  Mediterranean  by  falling  in  with  detached  squad- 
rons and  thus  destroying  it  in  detail.  When  they  arrived  off 
Carthagena  they  requested  the  Spanish  ships  to  make  sail  and 
join,  but  the  Spaniards  replied  they  had  not  men  to  man  them. 
To  this  it  was  answered  that  the  French  had  men  enough  on 
board  for  that  purpose.  But  the  Spaniards  seem  to  have  been 
apprehensive  of  delivering  up  their  ships  thus  entirely  into  the 
power  of  such  allies,  and  refused  to  come  out.  The  fleet  from 
Cadiz,  however,  consisting  of  seventeen  to  twenty  sail  of  the 
line,  got  out,  under  Masaredo,  a  man  who  then  bore  an  honor- 
able name,  which  he  afterwards  rendered  infamous  by  betraying 
his  country.  They  met  with  a  violent  storm  off  the  coast 
of  Oran,  which  dismasted  many  of  their  ships,  and  so  effectually 
disabled  them  as  to  prevent  the  junction  and  frustrate  a  well- 
planned  expedition. 

Before  this  occurred,  and  while  the  junction  was  as  probable 
as  it  would  have  been  formidable,  Nelson  was  in  a  state  of  the 
greatest  anxiety.  "  What  a  state  am  I  in !  "  said  he  to  Earl 
St.  Vincent.  **  If  I  go  I  risk,  and  more  than  risk,  Sicily ;  for 
we  know  from  experience  that  more  depends  upon  opinion 
than  upon  acts  themselves,  and  as  I  stay  my  heart  is  breaking." 
His  first  business  was  to  summon  Trowbridge  to  join  him,  with 
all  the  ships  of  the  line  under  his  command,  and  a  frigate  if 
possible.  Then  hearing  that  the  French  had  entered  the 
Mediterranean,  and  expecting  them  at  Palermo,  where  he  had 
only  his  own  ship,  with  that  single  ship  he  prepared  to  make 
all  the  resistance  possible.  Trowbridge  having  joined  him,  he 
left  Captain  E.  J.  Foote,  of  the  Seahorse^  to  command  the 
smaller  vessels  in  the  Bay  of  Naples,  and  sailed  with  six  ships 
—  one  a  Portuguese,  and  a  Portuguese  corvette  —  telling  Earl 
St.  Vincent  that  the  squadron  should  never  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.     "  And  before  we  are  destroyed,"  said  he,  "  I 


126  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

have  little  doubt  but  they  will  have  their  wings  so  completely 
clipped,  that  they  may  be  easily  overtaken." 

It  was  just  at  this  time  that  he  received  from  Captain 
Hallowell  the  present  of  the  coffin.  Such  a  present  was 
regarded  by  the  men  with  natural  astonishment ;  one  of  his 
old  shipmates  in  the  Agamemnon  said  :  ''  We  shall  have  hot 
work  of  it  indeed !  You  see  the  admiral  intends  to  fight  till 
he  is  killed  ;  and  there  he  is  to  be  buried  !  "  Nelson  placed  it 
upright  against  the  bulkhead  of  his  cabin,  behind  his  chair 
where  he  sat  at  dinner.  The  gift  suited  him  at  this  time.  It 
is  said  that  he  was  disappointed  in  the  son-in-law  whom  he  had 
loved  so  dearly  from  his  childhood,  and  who  had  saved  his  life 
at  Teneriffe. 

Nelson  was  dissatisfied  with  himself,  and  therefore  weary  of 
the  world.  This  feeling  he  now  frequently  expressed.  ''  There 
is  no  true  happiness  in  this  life,"  said  he,  "  and  in  my  present 
state  I  could  quit  it  with  a  smile."  And  in  a  letter  to  his  old 
friend  Davison  he  said :  ''  Believe  me,  my  only  wish  is  to  sink 
with  honor  into  the  grave  ;  and  when  that  shall  please  God, 
I  shall  meet  death  with  a  smile.  Not  that  I  am  insensible  to 
the  honors  and  riches  my  King  and  country  Jiave  heaped  upon 
me  —  so  much  more  than  any  officer  could  deserve;  yet  am  I 
ready  to  quit  this  world  of  trouble,  and  envy  none  but  those  of 
the  estate  six  feet  by  two." 

While  he  sailed  from  Palermo  with  the  intention  of  collecting 
his  whole  force,  and  keeping  off  Maretimo,  either  to  receive 
reinforcements  there  if  the  French  were  bound  upwards,  or  to 
hasten  to  Minorca  if  that  should  be  their  destination.  Captain 
Foote,  in  the  Seahorse^  with  the  Neapolitan  frigates  and  some 
small  vessels  under  his  command,  was  left  to  act  with  a  land 
force,  consisting  of  a  few  regular  troops  of  four  different  nations, 
and  with  the  armed  rabble  which  Cardinal  Ruffo  called  the 
Christian  army.  His  directions  were  to  cooperate  to  the  utmost 
of  his   power  with  royalists   at  whose   head  Ruffo  had  been 


FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  12/ 

placed,  and  he  had  no  other  instructions  whatever.  Ruffo 
advancing  without  any  plan,  but  relying  upon  the  enemy's  want 
of  numbers,  which  prevented  them  from  attempting  to  act  upon 
the  offensive,  and  ready  to  take  advantage  of  any  accident 
which  might  occur,  approached  Naples.  Fort  St.  Elmo,  which 
commands  the  town,  was  wholly  garrisoned  by  the  French 
troops  ;  the  castles  of  Uovo  and  Nuovo,  which  commanded  the 
anchorage,  were  chiefly  defended  by  Neapolitan  revolutionists, 
the  powerful  men  among  them  having  taken  shelter  there.  If 
these  castles  were  taken  the  reduction  of  Fort  St.  Elmo  would 
be  greatly  expedited.  They  were  strong  places,  and  there  was 
reason  to  apprehend  that  the  French  fleet  might  arrive  to 
relieve  them. 

Ruffo  proposed  to  the  garrison  to  capitulate,  on  condition 
that  their  persons  and  property  should  be  guaranteed,  and  that 
they  should  at  their  own  option  either  be  sent  to  Toulon  or 
remain  at  Naples,  without  being  molested  either  in  their 
persons  or  families.  This  capitulation  was  accepted.  It  was 
signed  by  the  cardinal  and  the  Russian  and  Turkish  com- 
manders, and  lastly  by  Captain  Foote,  as  commander  of  the 
British  force.  About  six  and  thirty  hours  afterwards  Nelson 
arrived  in  the  bay  with  a  force,  which  had  joined  him  during 
his  cruise, 'consisting  of  seventeen  sail  of  the  line,  with  1700 
troops  on  board,  and  the  prince  royal  of  Naples  in  the  admiral's 
ship.  A  flag  of  truce  was  flying  on  the  castles  and  on  board 
the  Seahorse.  Nelson  made  a  signal  to  annul  the  treaty, 
declaring  that  he  would  grant  rebels  no  other  terms  than  those 
of  unconditional  submission. 

The  cardinal  objected  to  this,  nor  could  all  the  arguments  of 
Nelson,  Sir  William  Hamilton,  and  -Lady  Hamilton,  who  took 
an  active  part  in  the  conference,  convince  him  that  a  treaty 
of  such  a  nature,  solemnly  concluded,  could  honorably  be  set 
aside.  He  retired  at  last,  silenced  by  Nelson's  authority,  but 
not  convinced.     Captain  Foote  was  3ent  out  of  the  bay,  and 


128  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

the  garrisons,  taken  out  of  the  castles  under  pretense  of  carry- 
ing the  treaty  into  effect,  were  delivered  over  as  rebels  to  the 
vengeance  of  the  Sicilian  Court.  A  deplorable  transaction, 
—  a  stain  upon  the  memory  of  Nelson  and  the  honor  of  Eng- 
land !  To  palliate  it  would  be  in  vain  ;  to  justify  it  would  be 
wicked.  There  is  no  alternative  for  one  who  will  not  make 
himself  a  participator  in  guilt  but  to  record  the  disgraceful 
story  with  sorrow  and  with  shame. 

The  castles  of  St.  Elmo,  Gaieta,  and  Capua  remained  to  be 
subdued.  On  the  land  side  there  was  no  danger  that  the 
French  in  these  garrisons  should  be  relieved,  for  Suvorof  was 
now  beginning  to  drive  the  enemy  before  him ;  but  Nelson 
thought  his  presence  necessary  in  the  Bay  of  Naples,  and  when 
Lord  Keith,  having  received  intelligence  that  the  French  and 
Spanish  fleets  had  formed  a  junction  and  sailed  for  Carthagena, 
ordered  him  to  repair  to  Minorca  with  the  whole  or  the  greater 
part  of  his  force,  he  sent  Admiral  Duckworth  with  a  small  part 
only.  This  was  a  dilemma  which  he  had  foreseen.  *'  Should 
such  an  order  come  at  this  moment,"  he  said  in  a  letter  previ- 
ously written  to  the  Admiralty,  ''  it  would  be  a  case  for  some 
consideration  whether  Minorca  is  to  be  risked,  or  the  two 
kingdoms  of  Naples  and  Sicily ;  I  rather  think  my  decision 
would  be  to  risk  the  former."  And  after  he  had'acted  upon 
this  opinion  he  wrote  in  these  terms  to  the  Duke  of  Clarence, 
with  whose  high  notions  of  obedience  he  was  well  acquainted : 
"  I  am  well  aware  of  the  consequences  of  disobeying  my  orders  ; 
but  as  I  have  often  before  risked  my  life  for  the  good  cause,  so 
I  with  cheerfulness  did  my  commission ;  for  although  a  military 
tribunal  may  think  me  criminal,  the  world  will  approve  of  my 
conduct ;  and  I  regard  not  my  own  safety  when  the  honor  of 
my  King  is  at  stake." 

Nelson  was  right  in  his  judgment  —  no  attempt  was  made 
upon  Minorca ;  and  the  expulsion  of  the  French  from  Naples 
may  rather  be  said  to  have  been  effected  than  accelerated  by 


FIGHTING  THE  FRENCH  IN  ITALY.         1 29 

the  English  and  Portuguese  of  the  allied  fleet,  acting  upon 
shore  under  Trowbridge. 

The  Admiralty,  however,  thought  it  expedient  to  censure 
him  for  disobeying  Lord  Keith's  orders,  and  thus  hazarding 
Minorca,  without,  as  it  appeared  to  them,  any  sufficient  reason; 
and  also  for  having  landed  seamen  for  the  siege  of  Capua  to 
form  part  of  an  army  employed  in  operations  at  a  distance 
from  the  coast,  where  in  case  of  defeat  they  might  have  been 
prevented  from  returning  to  their  ships;  and  they  enjoined  him 
"  not  to  employ  the  seamen  in  like  manner  in  the  future.'' 
This  reprimand  was  issued  before  the  event  was  known,  though 
indeed  the  event  would  not  affect  the  principle  upon  which  it 
proceeded.  When  Nelson  communicated  the  tidings  of  his 
complete  success  he  said  in  his  public  letter  that  "  it  would  not 
be  the  less  acceptable  for  having  been  principally  brought 
about  by  British  sailors."  His  judgment  in  thus  employing 
them  had  been  justified  by  the  result,  and  his  joy  was  evi- 
dently heightened  by  the  gratification  of  a  professional  and 
becoming  pride.  To  the  First  Lord  he  said  at  the  same  time, 
"  I  certainly,  from  having  only  a  left  hand,  cannot  enter  into 
details  which  may  explain  the  motives  that  actuated  my  con- 
duct. My  principle  is  to  assist  in  driving  out  the  French,  and 
in  restoring  peace  and  happiness  to  mankind.  I  feel  that  I  am 
fitter  to  do  the  action  than  to  describe  it."  He  then  added 
that  he  would  take  care  of  Minorca. 

The  Sicilian  Court,  however,  w.ere  at  this  time  duly  sensible 
of  the  services  which  had  been  rendered  them  by  the  British 
fleet,  and  their  gratitude  to  Nelson  was  shown  with  proper 
and  princely  munificence.  They  gave  him  the  dukedom  and 
domain  of  Bronte,  worth  about  ;^3ooo  a  year.  It  was  some 
days  before  he  could  be  persuaded  to  accept  it ;  the  argument 
which  finally  prevailed  is  said  to  have  been  suggested  by  the 
queen,  and  urged  at  her  request  by  Lady  Hamilton  upon  her 
knees.     "  He  considered  his  own  honor  too  much,"  she  said. 


130  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

"  if  he  persisted  in  refusing  what  the  king  and  queen  felt  to  be 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  theirs."  The  king 
himself  also  is  said  to  have  addressed  him  in  words  which  show 
that  the  sense  of  rank  will  sometimes  confer  a  virtue  upon 
those  who  seem  to  be  most  unworthy  of  the  lot  to  which  they 
have  been  born.  "  Lord  Nelson,  do  you  wish  that  your  name 
alone  should  pass  with  honor  to  posterity,  and  that  I,  Ferdi- 
nand Bourbon,  should  appear  ungrateful  ?  " 

He  gave  him  also,  when  the  dukedom  was  accepted,  a  dia- 
mond-hilted  sword,  which  his  father,  Charles  III.  of  Spain,  had 
given  him  on  his  accession  to  the  throne  of  the  two  Sicilies. 
Nelson  said,  ''the  reward  was  magnificent  and  worthy  of  a 
king,  and  he  was  determined  that  the  inhabitants  on  the 
domain  should  be  the  happiest  in  all  his  Sicilian  Majesty's 
dominions.  Yet,"  said  he,  speaking  of  these  and  the  other 
remunerations  which  were  made  him  for  his  services,  *'  these 
presents,  rich  as  they  are,  do  not  elevate  me.  My  pride  is, 
that  at  Constantinople,  from  the  grand  seignior  to  the  lowest 
Turk,  the  name  of  Nelson  is  familiar  in  their  mouths  ;  and  in 
this  country  I  am  everything  which  a  grateful  monarch  and 
people  can  call  me." 

Nelson,  however,  had  a  pardonable  pride  in  the  outward  and 
visible  signs  of  honor  which  he  had  so  fairly  won.  He  was 
fond  of  his  Sicilian  title :  the  signification  perhaps  pleased 
him  —  Duke  of  Thunder  was  what  in  Dahomy  would  be  called 
a  strong  name.  It  was  to  a  sailor's  taste,  and  certainly  to  no 
man  could  it  ever  be  more  applicable.  But  a  simple  offering, 
which  he  received  not  long  afterwards  from  the  island  of  Zante, 
affected  him  with  a  deeper  and  finer  feeling.  The  Greeks  of 
that  little  community  sent  him  a  golden-headed  sword  and  a 
truncheon,  set  round  with  all  the  diamonds  that  the  island 
could  furnish,  in  a  single  row.  They  thanked  him  "  for  having 
by  his  victory  preserved  that  part  of  Greece  from  the  horrors 
of  anarchy,  and  prayed  that  his  exploits  might  accelerate  the 


FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  I3I 

day  in  which,  amidst  the  glory  and  peace  of  thrones,  the 
miseries  of  the  human  race  would  cease.''  This  unexpected 
tribute  touched  Nelson  to  the  heart.  ''  No  officer,"  he  said, 
*'  had  ever  received  from  any  country  a  'higher  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  services." 

The  French  still  occupied  the  Roman  States,  from  which, 
according  to  their  own  admission,  they  had  extorted  in  jewels, 
plate,  specie,  and  requisitions  of  every  kind  to  the  enormous 
amount  of  eight  millions  sterling,  yet  they  affected  to  appear  as 
deliverers  among  the  people  whom  they  were  thus  cruelly  plun- 
dering, and  they  distributed  portraits  of  Bonaparte  with  the 
blasphemous  inscription,  "  This  is  the  true  likeness  of  the  holy 
savior  of  the  world  !  "  The  people,  detesting  the  impiety,  and 
groaning  beneath  the  exactions  of  these  perfidious  robbers, 
were  ready  to  join  any  regular  force  that  should  come  to  their 
assistance  ;  but  they  dreaded  Cardinal  Ruffo's  rabble,  and 
declared  they  would  resist  him  as  a  bandit  who  came  only  for 
the  purpose  of  pillage. 

Nelson  perceived  that  no  object  was  now  so  essential  for  the 
tranquillity  of  Naples  as  the  recovery  of  Rome,  which  in  the 
present  state  of  things,  when  Suvorof  was  driving  the  French 
before  him,  would  complete  the  deliverance  of  Italy.  He 
applied,  therefore,  to  Sir  James  St.  Clair  Erskine,  who,  in  the 
absence  of  General  Fox,  commanded  at  Minorca,  to  assist  in 
this  great  object  with  twelve  hundred  men.  "  The  field  of 
glory,"  said  he,  "  is  a  large  one,  and  was  never  more  open  to 
any  one  than  at  this  moment  to  you.  Rome  would  throw  open 
her  gates  and  receive  you  as  her  deliverer,  and  the  Pope  would 
owe  his  restoration  to  a  heretic."  But  Sir  James  Erskine 
looked  only  at  the  difficulties  of  the  undertaking.  ''  Twelve 
hundred  men,"  he  thought,  *'  would  be  too  small  a  force  to  be 
committed  in  such  an  enterprise,  for  Civita  Vecchia  was  a 
regular  fortress ;  the  local  situation  and  climate  also  were 
such  that  even  if  this  force  were  adequate  it  would  be  proper 


132  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

to  delay  the  expedition  till  October.  General  Fox,  too,  was 
soon  expected,  and  during  his  absence  and  under  existing  cir- 
cumstances he  did  not  feel  justified  in  sending  away  such  a 
detachment." 

What  this  general  thought  it  imprudent  to  attempt,  Nelson 
and  Trowbridge  effected  without  his  assistance,  by  a  small 
detachment  from  the  fleet. 

Having  thus  completed  his  work  upon  the  continent  of  Italy, 
Nelson's  whole  attention  was  directed  towards  Malta,  where 
Captain  Ball,  with  most  inadequate  means,  was  besieging  the 
French  garrison.  Never  was  any  officer  engaged  in  a  more 
anxious  and  painful  service.  The  smallest  reinforcement  from 
France  would  at  any  moment  have  turned  the  scale  against 
him  ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  his  consummate  ability  and  the 
love  and  veneration  with  which  the  Maltese  regarded  him, 
Malta  must  have  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Men, 
money,  food,  —  all  things  were  wanting.  The  garrison  con- 
sisted of  five  thousand  troops,  the  besieging  force  of  five 
hundred  English  and  Portuguese  marines,  and  about  fifteen 
hundred  armed  peasants.  Long  and  repeatedly  did  Nelson 
solicit  troops  to  effect  the  reduction  of  this  important  place. 
*'  It  has  been  no  fault  of  the  navy,"  said  he,  ''  that  Malta  has 
not  been  attacked  by  land ;  but  we  have  neither  the  means 
ourselves  nor  influence  with  those  who  have." 

The  same  causes  of  demurral  existed  which  prevented 
British  troops  from  assisting  in  the  expulsion  of  the  French 
from  Rome.  Sir  James  Erskine  was  expecting  General 
Fox,  —  he  could  not  act  without  orders ;  and  not  having, 
like  Nelson,,  that  lively  spring  of  hope  within  him  which 
partakes  enough  of  the  nature  of  faith  to  work  miracles 
in  war,  he  thought  it  "  evident  that  unless  a  respectable 
land  force,  in  numbers  sufficient  to  undertake  the  siege  of 
such  a  garrison,  in  one  of  the  strongest  places  of  Europe, 
and    supplied    with    proportionate    artillery   and  stores,    were 


FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  1 33 

sent  against  it,  no  reasonable  hope  could  be  entertained  of 
its  surrender." 

At  length  General  Fox  arrived  at  Minorca,  and,  at  length, 
permitted  Colonel  Graham  to  go  to  Malta,  but  with  means 
miserably  limited.  In  fact,  the  expedition  was  at  a  stand  for 
want  of  money,  when  Trowbridge,  arriving  at  Messina  to  co- 
operate in  it,  and  finding  this  fresh  delay,  immediately  offered 
all  that  he  could  command  of  his  own.  "  I  procured  him,  my 
lord,"  said  he  to  Nelson,  *'  fifteen  thousand  of  my  cobs  :  every 
farthing  and  every  atom  of  me  shall  be  devoted  to  the  cause." 
*'What  can  this  mean.?"  said  Nelson,  when  he  learned  that 
Colonel  Graham  was  ordered  not  to  incur  any  expenses  for 
stores  or  any  articles  except  provisions.  "  The  cause  cannot 
stand  still  for  want  of  a  little  money.  If  nobody  will  pay  it,  I 
will  sell  Bronte  and  the  Emperor  of  Russia's  box."  And  he 
actually  pledged  Bronte  for  ;^66oo  if  there  should  be  any  diffi- 
culty about  paying  the  bills. 

The  long-delayed  expedition  was  thus  at  last  sent  forth,  but 
Trowbridge  little  imagined  in  what  scenes  of  misery  he  was  to 
bear  his  part.  He  looked  to  Sicily  for  supplies:  it  was  the  in- 
terest as  well  as  the  duty  of  the  Sicilian  government  to  use 
every  exertion  for  furnishing  them;  and  Nelson  and  the  British 
ambassador  were  on  the  spot  to  press  upon  them  the  necessity 
of  exertion.  But  though  Nelson  saw  with  what  a  knavish  crew 
the  Sicilian  Court  was  surrounded,  he  was  blind  to  the  vices  of 
the  Court  itself;  and  resigning  himself  wholly  to  Lady  Hamil- 
ton's influence,  never  even  suspected  the  crooked  policy  which 
it  was  remorselessly  pursuing.  The  Maltese  and  the  British  in 
Malta  severely  felt  it.  Trowbridge,  who  had  the  truest  affection 
for  Nelson,  knew  his  infatuation,  and  feared  that  it  might  prove 
injurious  to  his  character  as  well  as  fatal  to  an  enterprise  which 
had  begun  so  well  and  been  carried  on  so  patiently.  "  My 
lord,"  said  he,  writing  to  him  from  the  siege,  "  we  are  dying  off 
fast  for  want.     I  learn  that  Sir  William  Hamilton  says"  Prince 


1 34  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

Luzzi  refused  corn  some  time  ago,  and  Sir  William  does  not 
think  it  worth  while  making  another  application.  If  that  be 
the  case,  I  wish  he  commanded  this  distressing  scene  instead 
of  me.  Puglia  had  an  immense  harvest:  nearly  thirty  sail  left 
Messina  before  I  did,  to  load  corn.  Will  they  let  us  have  any  ? 
If  not,  a  short  time  will  decide  the  business.  The  German  in- 
terest prevails.  I  wish  I  was  at  your  lordship's  elbow  for  an 
hour.  All^  all,  will  be  thrown  on  you !  I  will  parry  the  blow 
as  much  as  in  my  power  :  I  foresee  much  mischief  brewing. 
God  bless  your  lordship  !  I  am  miserable ;  I  cannot  assist  your 
operations  more.  Many  happy  returns  of  the  day  to  you.  (It 
was  the  first  day  of  the  new  year.)  I  never  spent  so  miserable 
a  one.  I  am  not  very  tender-hearted,  but  really  the  distress 
here  would  even  move  a  Neapolitan." 

Soon  afterwards  he  wrote :  "  I  have  this  day  saved  thirty 
thousand  people  from  starving,  but  with  this  day  my  ability 
ceases.  As  the  government  are  bent  on  starving  us,  I  see  no 
alternative  but  to  leave  these  poor  unhappy  people  to  perish, 
without  our  being  witnesses  of  their  distress.  I  curse  the 
day  I  ever  served  the  Neapolitan  government.  We  have  char- 
acters, my  lord,  to  lose  :  these  people  have  none.  Do  not  suffer 
their  infamous  conduct  to  fall  on  us.  Our  country  is  just,  but 
severe.  Such  is  the  fever  of  my  brain  this  minute,  that  I 
assure  you,  on  my  honor,  if  the  Palermo  traitors  were  here,  I 
would  shoot  them  first,  and  then  myself.  Girgenti  is  full  of 
corn ;  the  money  is  ready  to  pay  for  it,  we  do  not  ask  it  as  a 
gift.  Oh  !  could  you  see  the  horrid  distress  I  daily  experience, 
something  would  be  done.  Some  engine  is  at  work  against  us 
at  Naples,  and  I  believe  I  hit  on  the  proper  person.  If  you 
complain,  he  will  be  immediately  promoted,  agreeably  to  the 
Neapolitan  custom.  All  I  write  to  you  is  known  at  the  queen's. 
For  my  own  part,  I  look  upon  the  Neapolitans  as  the  worst 
of  intriguing  enemies :  every  hour  shows  me  their  infamy  and 
duplicity.     I   pray   your    lordship,   be    cautious:   your  honest, 


FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  135 

open  manner  of  acting  will  be  made  a  handle  of.  When  I  see 
you  and  tell  of  their  infamous  tricks  you  will  be  as  much  sur- 
prised as  I  am.     The  whole  will  fall  on  you." 

Nelson  was  not,  and  could  not  be,  insensible  to  the  distress 
which  his  friend  so  earnestly  represented.  He  begged,  almost 
on  his  knees,  he  said,  small  supplies  of  money  and  corn  to  keep 
the  Maltese  from  starving.  And  when  the  Court  granted  a 
small  supply,  protesting  their  poverty,  he  believed  their  pro- 
testations and  was  satisfied  with  their  professions,  instead  of 
insisting  that  the  restrictions  upon  the  exportation  of  corn 
should  be  withdrawn.  The  anxiety,  however,  which  he 
endured  affected  him  so  deeply  that  he  said  it  had  broken 
his  spirit  forever.  Happily,  all  that  Trowbridge  with  so 
much  reason  foreboded,  did  not  come  to  pass ;  for  Captain 
Ball,  with  more  decision  than  Nelson  himself  would  have 
shown  at  that  time  and  upon  that  occasion,  ventured  upon  a 
resolute  measure,  for  which  his  name  would  deserve  always  to 
be  held  in  veneration  by  the  Maltese,  even  if  it  had  no  other 
claims  to  the  love  and  reverence  of  a  grateful  people.  Find- 
ing it  hopeless  longer  to  look  for  succor  or  common  humanity 
from  the  deceitful  and  infatuated  Court  of  Sicily,  which  per- 
sisted in  prohibiting  by  sanguinary  edicts  the  exportation  of 
supplies,  at  his  own  risk  he  sent  his  first  lieutenant  to  the  port 
of  Girgenti  with  orders  to  seize  and  bring  with  him  to  Malta 
the  ships  which  were  there  lying  laden  with  corn,  of  the  num- 
ber of  which  he  had  received  accurate  information.  These 
orders  were  executed,  to  the  great  delight  and  advantage  of  the 
shipowners  and  proprietors ;  the  necessity  of  raising  the  siege 
was  removed,  and  Captain  Ball  waited  in  calmness  for  the  con- 
sequences to  himself.  *'  But,"  said  Mr.  Coleridge,  *'  the  sole 
result  was  that  the  Governor  of  Malta  became  an  especial  ob- 
ject of  the  hatred,  fear,  and  respect  of  the  Court  of  Naples." 

Nelson  himself,  at  the  beginning  of  February,  sailed  for  that 
island.     On  the  way  he  fell  in  with  a  French  squadron  bound 


136  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

for  its  relief,  and  consisting  of  the  Genereux,  seventy-four,  three 
frigates,  and  a  corvette.  One  of  these  frigates  and  the  line-of- 
battle  ship  were  taken ;  the  others  escaped,  but  failed  in  their 
purpose  of  reaching  La  Valette.  This  success  was  peculiarly 
gratifying  to  Nelson  for  many  reasons.  During  some  months 
he  had  acted  as  commander-in-chief  in  the  Mediterranean  while 
Lord  Keith  was  in  England.  Lord  Keith  returned ;  and 
Nelson  had,  upon  his  own  plan,  and  at  his  own  risk,  left  him, 
to  sail  for  Malta,  **  for  which,"  said  he,  "  if  I  had  not  succeeded, 
I  might  have  been  broke  ;  and  if  I  had  not  acted  thus,  the 
Gknereiix  never  would  have  been  taken." 

This  ship  was  one  of  those  which  had  escaped  from  Aboukir. 
Two  frigates  and  the  Guillaume  Tell^  eighty-six,  were  all  that 
now  remained  of  the  fleet  which  Bonaparte  had  conducted  to 
Egypt.  The  Guillaume  Tell  was  at  this  time  closely  watched 
in  the  harbor  of  La  Valette ;  and  shortly  afterwards,  attempt- 
ing to  make  her  escape  from  thence,  was  taken,  after  an  action 
in  which  greater  skill  was  never  displayed  by  British  ships, 
nor  greater  gallantry  by  an  enemy.  She  was  taken  by  the 
Foudroyant,  Lion,  and  Penelope  frigate.  Nelson,  rejoicing  at 
what  he  called  this  glorious  finish  to  the  whole  French  Medi- 
terranean fleet,  rejoiced  also  that  he  was  not  present  to  have 
taken  a  sprig  off  these  brave  men's  laurels.  "  They  are,"  said 
he,  "  and  I  glory  in  them,  my  children  :  they  served  in  my 
school ;  and  all  of  us  caught  our  professional  zeal  and  fire  from 
the  great  and  good  Earl  St.  Vincent.  What  a  pleasure,  what 
happiness,  to  have  the  Nile  fleet  all  taken,  under  my  orders 
and  regulations  !  "  The  two  frigates  still  remained  in  La 
Valette.  Before  its  surrender  they  stole  out :  one  was  taken  in  , 
the  attempt ;  the  other  was  the  only  ship  of  the  whole  fleet 
which  escaped  capture  or  destruction. 

Letters  were  found  on  board  the  Guillaume  Tell  showing  that 
the  French  were  now  become  hopeless  of  preserving  the  con- 
quest which  they  had  so  foully  acquired.     Trowbridge  and  his 


FIGHTING    THE    FRENCH    IN    ITALY.  13/ 

brother  officers  were  anxious  that  Nelson  should  have  the 
honor  of  signing  the  capitulation.  They  told  him  that  they 
absolutely,  as  far  as  they  dared,  insisted  on  his  staying  to  do 
this ;  but  their  earnest  and  affectionate  entreaties  were  vain. 
Sir  William  Hamilton  had  just  been  superseded;  Nelson  had 
no  feeling  of  cordiality  towards  Lord  Keith;  and  thinking  that, 
after  Earl  St.  Vincent,  no  man  had  so  good  a  claim  to  the 
command  in  the  Mediterranean  as  himself,  he  applied  for  per- 
mission to  return  to  England,  telling  the  First  Lord  of  the 
Admiralty  that  his  spirit  could  not  submit  patiently,  and  that 
he  was  a  broken-hearted  man. 

A  ship  could  not  be  spared  to  convey  him  to  England  ;  he 
therefore  traveled  through  Germany  to  Hamburg,  in  company 
with  his  inseparable  friends.  Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamilton. 
The  Queen  of  Naples  went  with  them  to  Vienna.  While  they 
were  at  Leghorn,  upon  a  report  that  the  French  were  approach- 
ing (for  through  the  folly  of  weak  Courts  and  the  treachery  of 
, venal  Cabinets  they  had  now  recovered  their  ascendency  in 
Italy),  the  people  rose  tumultuously,  and  would  fain  have 
persuaded  Nelson  to  lead  them  against  the  enemy.  Public 
honors  and  yet  more  gratifying  testimonials  of  public  ad- 
miration awaited  Nelson  wherever  he  went.  The  Prince  of 
Esterhazy  entertained  him  in  a  style  of  Hungarian  magnifi- 
cence—  a  hundred  grenadiers,  each  six  feet  in  height,  con- 
stantly waiting  at  table.  At  Madgeburg,  the  master  of  the 
hotel  where  he  was  entertained  contrived  to  show  him  for 
money,  admitting  the  curious  to  mount  a  ladder  and  peep  at 
him  through  a  small  window.  A  wine  merchant  at  Hamburg, 
who  was  above  seventy  years  of  age,  requested  to  speak  with 
Lady  Hamilton  and  told  her  he  had  some  Rhenish  wine  of  the 
vintage  of  1625,  which  had  been  in  his  own  possession  more 
than  half  a  century  ; ,  he  had  preserved  it  for  some  extra- 
ordinary occasion,  and  that  which  had  now  arrived  was  far 
beyond  any  that  he  could  ever  have  expected.     His  request 


138  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

was,  that  her  ladyship  would  prevail  upon  Lord  Nelson  to 
accept  six  dozen  of  this  incomparable  wine ;  part  of  it  would 
then  have  the  honor  to  flow  into  the  heart's  blood  of  that 
immortal  hero,  and  this  thought  would  make  him  happy  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  his  life.  Nelson,  when  this  singular 
request  was  reported  to  him,  went  into  the  room,  and  taking 
the  worthy  old  gentleman  kindly  by  the  hand,  consented  to 
receive  six  bottles,  provided  the  donor  would  dine  with  him 
next  day.  Twelve  were  sent,  and  Nelson,  saying  that  he 
hoped  yet  to  win  half  a  dozen  more  great  victories,  promised 
to  lay  by  six  bottles  of  his  Hamburg  friend's  wine  for  the  pur- 
pose of  drinking  one  after  each.  A  German  pastor,  between 
seventy  and  eighty  years  of  age,  traveled  forty  miles,  with  the 
Bible  of  his  parish  church,  to  request  that  Nelson  would  write 
his  name  on  the  first  leaf  of  it.  He  called  him  the  saviour  of 
the  Christian  world.  The  old  man's  hope  deceived  him.  There 
was  no  Nelson  upon  shore,  or  Europe  would  have  been  saved ; 
but  in  his  foresight  of  the  horrors  with  which  all  Germany 
and  all  Christendom  were  threatened  by  France,  the  pastor 
could  not  possibly  have  apprehended  more  than  has  actually 
taken  place. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


BATTLE    OF    THE    BALTIC. 


NELSON  was  welcomed  in  England  with  every  mark  of 
popular  honor.  At  Yarmouth,  where  he  landed,  every 
ship  in  the  harbor  hoisted  her  colors.  The  mayor  and  corpo- 
ration waited  upon  him  with  the  freedom  of  the  town,  and 
accompanied  him  in  procession  to  church,  with  all  the  naval 
officers  on  shore  and  the  principal  inhabitants.  Bonfires  and 
illuminations  concluded  the  day;  and  on  the  morrow  the 
volunteer  cavalry  drew  up  and  saluted  him  as  he  departed,  and 
followed  the  carriage  to  the  borders  of  the  county.  At  Ipswich 
the  people  came  out  to  meet  him,  drew  him  a  mile  into  the 
town  and  three  miles  out.  When  he  was  in  the  Agamemnon 
he  wished  to  represent  this  place  in  Parliament,  and  some  of 
his  friends  had  consulted  the  leading  men  of  the  corporation ; 
the  result  was  not  successful,  and  Nelson,  observing  that  he 
would  endeavor  to  find  out  a  preferable  path  into  Parliament, 
said  there  might  come  a  time  when  the  people  of  Ipswich 
would  think  it  an  honor  to  have  had  him  for  their  representa- 
tive. In  London  he  was  feasted  by  the  City,  drawn  by  the 
populace  from  Ludgate  Hill  to  Guildhall,  and  received  the 
thanks  of  the  Common  Council  for  his  great  victory,  and  a 
golden-hilted  sword  studded  with  diamonds. 

The  Addington  administration  was  just  at  this  time  formed, 
and  Nelson,  who  had  solicited  employment,  and  been  made 
Vice- Admiral  of  the  Blue,  was  sent  to  the  Baltic,  as  second  in 
command  under  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  by  Earl  St.  Vincent,  the 
new  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty.  The  three  northern  Courts 
had  formed  a  confederacy  for  making  England  resign  her  naval 


140  SOUTHEYS    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

rights.  Of  these  Courts,  Russia  was  guided  by  the  passions 
of  its  emperor,  Paul,  a  man  not  without  fits  of  generosity  and 
some  natural  goodness,  but  subject  to  the  wildest  humors  of 
caprice,  and  crazed  by  the  possession  of  greater  power  than 
can  ever  be  safely  or  perhaps  innocently  possessed  by  weak 
humanity.  Denmark  was  French  at  heart  ;  ready  to  cooperate 
in  all  the  views  of  France,  to  recognize  all  her  usurpations, 
and  obey  all  her  injunctions.  Sweden,  under  a  king  whose 
principles  were  right  and  whose  feelings  were  generous,  but 
who  had  a  taint  of  hereditary  insanity,  acted  in  acquiescence 
with  the  dictates  of  two  Powers  whom  it  feared  to  offend. 

The  Danish  navy  at  this  time  consisted  of  twenty-three  ships 
of  the  line,  with  about  thirty-one  frigates  and  smaller  vessels, 
exclusive  of  guardships.  The  Swedes  had  eighteen  ships  of 
the  line,  fourteen  frigates  and  sloops,  seventy-four  galleys  and 
smaller  vessels,  besides  gunboats ;  and  this  force  was  in  a  far 
better  state  of  equipment  than  the  Danish.  The  Russians  had 
eighty-two  sail  of  the  line  and  forty  frigates.  Of  these,  there 
were  forty-seven  sail  of  the  line  at  Cronstadt,  Revel,  Peters- 
burg, and  Archangel;  but  the  Russian  fleet  was  ill  manned, 
ill  officered,  and  ill  equipped.  Such  a  combination  under  the 
influence  of  France  would  soon  have  become  formidable  ;  and 
never  did  the  British  Cabinet  display  more  decision  than  in 
instantly  preparing  to  crush  it.  They  erred,  however,  in 
permitting  any  petty  consideration  to  prevent  them  from 
appointing  Nelson  to  the  command.  The  public  properly 
murmured  at  seeing  it  entrusted  to  another  ;  and  he  himself 
said  to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  that,  circumstanced  as  he  was,  this 
expedition  would  probably  be  the  last  service  that  he  should 
ever  perform.  The  earl,  in  reply,  besought  him  not  to  suffer 
himself  to  be  carried  away  by  any  sudden  impulse. 

The  season  happened  to  be  unusually  favorable  :  so  mild  a 
winter  had  not  been  known  in  the  Baltic  for  many  years. 
When   Nelson  joined    the    fleet   at    Yarmouth    he    found   the 


BATTLE  OF  THE  BALTIC.  I4I 

admiral  "  a  little  nervous  about  dark  nights  and  fields  of  ice." 
"  But  we  must  brace  up,"  said  he ;  **  these  are  not  times  for 
nervous  systems.  I  hope  we  shall  give  our  northern  enemies 
that  hailstorm  of  bullets  which  gives  our  dear  country  the 
dominion  of  the  sea.  We  have  it,  and  all  the  powers  in  the 
north  cannot  take  it  from  us,  if  our  wooden  walls  have  fair 
play."  Before  the  fleet  left  Yarmouth  it  was  sufficiently 
known  that  its  destination  was  against  Denmark.  Some 
Danes,  who  belonged  to  the  Amazon  frigate,  went  to  Captain 
Riou,  and  telling  him  what  they  had  heard,  begged  that  he 
would  get  them  exchanged  into  a  ship  bound  on  some  other 
destination.  "  They  had  no  wish,''  they  said,  "  to  quit  the 
British  service  ;  but  they  entreated  that  they  might  not  be 
forced  to  fight  against  their  own  country."  There  was  not  in 
our  whole  navy  a  man  who  had  a  higher  and  more  chivalrous 
sense  of  duty  than  Riou.  Tears  came  into  his  eyes  while  the 
men  were  speaking  ;  without  making  any  reply,  he  instantly 
ordered  his  boat,  and  did  not  return  to  the  Amazon  until  he 
could  tell  them  that  their  wish  was  effected. 

The  fleet  sailed  on  the  12th  of  March.  Mr.  Vansittart 
sailed  in  it,  the  British  Cabinet  still  hoping  to  obtain  its  end 
by  negotiation.  It  was  well  for  England  that  Sir  Hyde  Parker 
placed  a  fuller  confidence  in  Nelson  than  the  government 
seems  to  have  done  at  this  most  important  crisis.  Her 
enemies  might  well  have  been  astonished  at  learning  that  any 
other  man  should  for  a  moment  have  been  thought  of  for  the 
command.  But  so  little  deference  was  paid,  even  at  this  time, 
to  his  intuitive  and  all-commanding  genius,  that  when  the  fleet 
had  reached  its  first  rendezvous,  at  the  entrance  of  the  Catte- 
gat,  he  had  received  no  official  communication  whatever  of  the 
intended  operations.  His  own  mind  had  been  made  up  upon 
them  with  its  accustomed  decision.  "  All  I  have  gathered  of 
our  first  plans,"  said  he,  ''  I  disapprove  most  exceedingly. 
Honor  may  arise  from  them  ;    good  cannot.     I  hear  we  are 


142  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

likely  to  anchor  outside  of  Cronenburg  Castle,  instead  of 
Copenhagen,  which  would  give  weight  to  our  negotiation.  A 
Danish  minister  would  think  twice  before  he  would  put  his 
name  to  war  with  England,  when  the  next  moment  he  would 
probably  see  his  master's  fleet  in  flames,  and  his  capital  in 
ruins.  The  Dane  should  see  our  flag  every  moment  he  lifted 
up  his  head." 

Mr.  Vansittart  left  the  fleet  at  the  Scaw,  and  preceded  it  in 
a  frigate  with  a  flag  of  truce.  Precious  time  was  lost  by  this 
delay,  which  was  to  be  purchased  by  the  dearest  blood  of 
Britain  and  Denmark  ;  according  to  the  Danes  themselves,  the 
intelligence  that  a  British  fleet  was  seen  off  the  Sound  produced 
a  much  more  general  alarm  in  Copenhagen  than  its  actual 
arrival  in  the  roads ;  for  their  means  of  defense  were  at  that 
time  in  such  a  state  that  they  could  hardly  hope  to  resist,  still 
less  to  repel,  an  enemy.  On  the  21st  Nelson  had  a  long  con- 
ference with  Sir  Hyde  ;  and  the  next  day  addressed  a  letter  to 
him  worthy  of  himself  and  of  the  occasion.  Mr.  Vansittart's 
report  had  then  been  received.  It  represented  the  Danish 
government  as  in  the  highest  degree  hostile,  and  their  state 
of  preparation  as  exceeding  what  our  Cabinet  had  supposed 
possible  ;  for  Denmark  had  profited,  with  all  activity,  of  the 
leisure  which  had  so  impoliticly  been  given  her.  ''  The  more 
I  have  reflected,"  said  Nelson  to  his  commander,  "the  more  I 
am  confirmed  in  opinion  that  not  a  moment  should  be  lost  in 
attacking  the  enemy.  They  will  every  day  and  every  hour  be 
stronger  ;  we  shall  never  be  so  good  a  match  for  them  as  at 
this  moment.  The  only  consideration  is,  how  to  get  at  them 
with  the  least  risk  to  our  ships.  Here  you  are,  with  almost  the 
safety  —  certainly  with  the  honor  —  of  England  more  entrusted 
to  you  than  ever  yet  fell  to  the  lot  of  any  British  officer.  On 
your  decision  depends  whether  our  country  shall  be  degraded 
in  the  eyes  of  Europe,  or  whether  she  shall  rear  her  head 
higher  than  ever.     Again  I  do  repeat,  never  did  our  country 


BATTLE    OF    THE    BALTIC.  I 43 

depend  so  much  upon  the  success  of  any  fleet  as  on  this. 
How  best  to  honor  her  and  abate  the  pride  of  her  enemies 
must  be  the  subject  of  your  deepest  consideration." 

Supposing  him  to  force  the  passage  of  the  Sound,  Nelson 
thought  some  damage  might  be  done  among  the  masts  and 
yards,  though  perhaps  not  one  of  them  but  would  be  service- 
able again.  "  If  the  wind  be  fair,"  said  he,  "  and  you  determine 
to  attack  the  ships  and  Crown  Islands,  you  must  expect  the 
natural  issue  of  such  a  battle,  —  ships  crippled,  and  perhaps 
one  or  two  lost,  for  the  wind  which  carries  you  in  will  most 
probably  not  bring  out  a  crippled  ship.  This  method  I  call 
taking  the  bull  by  the  horns.  It  will,  however,  not  prevent 
the  Revel  ships  or  the  Swedes  from  joining  the  Danes ;  and  to 
prevent  this  is,  in  my  humble  opinion,  a  measure  absolutely 
necessary,  and  still  to  attack  Copenhagen."  For  this  he 
proposed  two  modes.  One  was  to  pass  Cronenburg,  taking 
the  risk  of  danger,  take  the  deepest  and  straightest  channel 
along  the  Middle  Grounds,  and  then  coming  down  the  Garbar, 
or  King's  Channel,  attack  the  Danish  line  of  floating  batteries 
and  ships  as  might  be  found  convenient.  This  would  prevent 
a  junction,  and  might  give  an  opportunity  of  bombarding 
Copenhagen.  Or  to  take  the  passage  of  the  Belt,  which  might 
be  accomplished  in  four  or  five  days,  and  then  the  attack  by 
Draco  might  be  made  and  the  junction  of  the  Russians  pre- 
vented. Supposing  them  through  the  Belt,  he  proposed  that 
a  detachment  of  the  fleet  should  be  sent  to  destroy  the  Russian 
squadron  at  Revel,  and  that  the  business  at  Copenhagen 
should  be  attempted  with  the  remainder.  "  The  measure,"  he 
said,  "might  be  thought  bold;  but  the  boldest  measures  are 
the  safest." 

The  pilots,  as  men  who  had  nothing  but  safety  to  think  of, 
were  terrified  by  the  formidable  report  of  the  batteries  of 
Elsinore,  and  the  tremendous  preparations  which  our  negotia- 
tors,  who    were    now    returned   from    their   fruitless    mission, 


144  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

witnessed.  They  therefore  persuaded  Sir  Hyde  to  prefer  the 
passage  of  the  Belt.  "  Let  it  be  by  the  Sound/  by  the  Belt,  or 
anyhow,"  cried  Nelson ;  "  only  lose  not  an  hour !  "  On  the 
26th  they  sailed  for  the  Belt;  such  was  the  habitual  reserve  of 
Sir  Hyde  that  his  own  captain,  the  captain  of  the  fleet,  did  not 
know  which  course  he  had  resolved  to  take  till  the  fleet  were 
getting  under  way.  When  Captain  Domett  was  thus  apprised 
of  it,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  represent  to  the  admiral  his  belief 
that,  if  that  course  were  persevered  in,  the  ultimate  object- 
would  be  totally  defeated.  It  was  liable  to  long  delays  and  to 
accidents  of  ships  grounding.  In  the  whole  fleet  there  were 
only  one  captain  and  one  pilot  who  knew  anything  of  this 
formidable  passage  (as  it  was  then  deemed),  and  their  knowl- 
edge was  very  slight  Their  instructions  did  not  authorize  them 
to  attempt  it.  Supposing  them  safe  through  the  Belts,  the 
heavy  ships  could  not  come  over  the  Grounds  to  attack  Copen- 
hagen, and  light  vessels  would  have  no  effect  on  such  a  line  of 
defense  as  had  been  prepared  against  them.  Domett  urged 
these  reasons  so  forcibly  that  Sir  Hyde's  opinion  was  shaken, 
and  he  consented  to  bring  the  fleet  to  and  send  for  Nelson  on 
board.  There  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  the  expedition 
would  have  failed  if  Captain  Domett  had  not  thus  timely  and 
eai-nestly  given  his  advice.  Nelson  entirely  agreed  with  him, 
and  it  was  finally  determined  to  take  the  passage  of  the  Sound, 
and  the  fleet  returned  to  its  former  anchorage. 

The  next  day  was  more  idly  expended  in  dispatching  a  flag 
of  truce  to  the  governor  of  Cronenburg  Castle,  to  ask  whether 
he  had  received  orders  to  fire  at  the  British  fleet,  as  the 
admiral  must  consider  the  first  gun  to  be  a  declaration  of  war 
on  the  part  of  Denmark.     A  soldier-like  and  becoming  answer 

1  Sound.  —  The  strait  between  the  Danish  island  of  Zealand  on  the 
west  and  the  coast  of  Sweden  on  the  east.  The  Belt.  —  There  were  two 
''  belts  "  or  passages  from  the  Cattegat  to  the  Baltic,  passing  to  the  west  of 
the  island  of  Zealand. 


BATTLE  OF  THE  BALTIC.  145 

was  returned  to  this  formality.  The  governor  said  that  the 
British  minister  had  not  been  sent  away  from  Copenhagen,  but 
had  obtained  a  passport  at  his  own  demand.  He  himself,  as  a 
soldier,  could  not  meddle  with  politics,  but  he  was  not  at 
liberty  to  suffer  a  fleet,  of  which  the  intention  was  not  yet 
known,  to  approach  the  guns  of  the  castle  which  he  had  the 
honor  to  command,  and  he  requested,  if  the  British  admiral 
should  think  proper  to  make  any  proposals  to  the  King  of 
Denmark,  that  he  might  be  apprised  of  it  before  the  fleet 
approached  nearer.  During  this  intercourse  a  Dane,  who 
came  on  board  the  commander's  ship,  having  occasion  to 
express  his  business  in  writing,  found  the  pen  blunt,  and 
holding  it  up,  sarcastically  said,  "  If  your  guns  are  not  better 
pointed  than  your  pens,  you  will  make  little  impression  on 
Copenhagen." 

On  that  day  intelligence  reached  the  admiral  of  the  loss  of 
one  of  his  fleet,  the  Invmcible,  seventy-four,  wrecked  on  a  sand- 
bank as  she  was  coming  out  of  Yarmouth  ;  400  of  her  men 
perished  in  her.  Nelson,  who  was  now  appointed  to  lead  the 
van,  shifted  his  flag  to  the  Elephant,  Captain  Foley  —  a  lighter 
ship  than  the  St.  George,  and  therefore  fitter  for  the  expected 
operations.  The  two  following  days  were  calm.  Orders  had 
been  given  to  pass  the  Sound  as  soon  as  the  wind  would 
permit,  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  29th  the  ships  were  cleared 
for  action  with  an  alacrity  characteristic  of  British  seamen. 
At  daybreak  on  the  30th  it  blew  a  topsail  breeze  from  N.W. 
The  signal  was  made,  and  the  fleet  moved  on  in  order  of 
battle  ;  Nelson's  division  in  the  van.  Sir  Hyde's  in  the  center, 
and  Admiral  Graves'  in  the  rear. 

Great  actions,  whether  military  or  naval,  have  generally 
given  celebrity  to  the  scenes  from  whence  they  are  denomi- 
nated, and  thus  petty  villages,  and  capes,  and  bays,  known 
only  to  the  coasting  trader,  become  associated  with  mighty 
deeds,  and  their  names  are  made  conspicuous  in  the  history  of 


146  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

the  world.  Here,  however,  the  scene  was  every  way  worthy 
of  the  drama.  The  poUtical  importance  of  the  Sound  is  such 
that  grand  objects  are  not  needed  there  to  impress  the  imagina- 
tion, yet  is  the  channel  full  of  grand  and  interesting  objects, 
both  of  art  and  nature.  This  passage,  which  Denmark  had  so 
long  considered  as  the  key  of  the  Baltic,  is  in  its  narrowest 
part  about  three  miles  wide,  and  here  the  city  of  Elsinore  is 
situated,  except  Copenhagen  the  most  flourishing  of  the  Danish 
towns.  Every  vessel  which  passes  lowers  her  top-gallant  sails 
and  pays  toll  at  Elsinore,  a  toll  which  is  believed  to  have  had 
its  origin  in  the  consent  of  the  traders  to  that  sea,  Denmark 
taking  upon  itself  the  charge  of  constructing  lighthouses  and 
erecting  signals  to  mark  the  shoals  and  rocks  from  the  Catte- 
gat  to  the  Baltic ;  and  they  on  their  part  agreeing  that  all 
ships  should  pass  this  way  in  order  that  all  might  pay  their 
shares ;  none  from  that  time  using  the  passage  of  the  Belt, 
because  it  was  not  fitting  that  they  who  enjoyed  the  benefit  of 
the  beacons  in  dark  and  stormy  weather  should  evade  contribut- 
ing to  them  in  fair  seasons  and  summer  nights.  Of  late  years 
about  ten  thousand  vessels  had  annually  paid  this  contribution 
in  time  of  peace.  Adjoining  Elsinore,  and  at  the  edge  of  the 
peninsular  promontory,  upon  the  nearest  point  of  land  to  the 
Swedish  coast,  stands  Cronenburg  Castle,  built  after  Tycho 
Brahe's  ^  design,  a  magnificent  pile  —  at  once  a  palace  and 
fortress  and  state  prison,  with  its  spires  and  towers,  and 
battlements  and  batteries.  On  the  left  of  the  strait  is  the 
old  Swedish  city  of  Helsinburg,  at  the  foot  and  on  the  side  of 
a  hill. 

To  the  north  of  Helsinburg  the  shores  are  steep  and  rocky ; 
they  lower  to  the  south,  and  the  distant  spires  of  Landscrona, 
Lund,  and  Malmoe  are  seen  in  the  flat  country.  The  Danish 
shores  consist  partly  of  ridges  of  sand,  but  more  frequently 
their  slopes  are  covered  with  rich  wood,  and  villages  and  villas, 

1  Tycho  Brahe  (i  546-1601).  —  The  celebrated  Danish  astronomer. 


BATTLE  OF  THE  BALTIC.  I47 

denoting  the  vicinity  of  a  great  capital.  The  isles  of  Huen, 
Satholm,  and  Amak  appear  in  the  widening  channel ;  and  at 
the  distance  of  twenty  miles  from  Elsinore  stands  Copenhagen, 
in  full  view,  —  the  best  city  of  the  north,  and  one  of  the  finest 
capitals  of  Europe,  visible,  with  its  stately  spires,  far  off. 

Amid  these  magnificent  objects  there  are  some  which  possess 
a  peculiar  interest  for  the  recollections  which  they  call  forth. 
The  isle  of  Huen,  a  lovely  domain,  about  six  miles  in  circum- 
ference, had  been  the  munificent  gift  of  Frederic  the  Second  to 
Tycho  Brahe.  Here  most  of  his  discoveries  were  made,  and 
here  the  ruins  are  to  be  seen  of  his  observatory,  and  of  the 
mansion  where  he  was  visited  by  princes,  and  where,  with  a 
princely  spirit,  he  received  and  entertained  all  comers  from  all 
parts,  and  promoted  science  by  his  liberality  as  well  as  by  his 
labors.  Elsinore  ^  is  a  name  familiar  to  EngHsh  ears,  being 
inseparably  associated  with  Hamlet,  and  one  of  the  noblest 
works  of  human  genius.  Cronenburg  had  been  the  scene  of 
deeper  tragedy ;  here  Queen  Matilda  ^  was  confined,  the  victim 
of  a  foul  and  murderous  court  intrigue.  Here,  amid  heart- 
breaking griefs,  she  found  consolation  in  nursing  her  infant. 
Here  she  took  her  everlasting  leave  of  that  infant,  when,  by 
the  interference  of  England,  her  own  deliverance  was  obtained, 
and  as  the  ship  bore  her  away  she  fixed  her  eyes  upon  these 
towers,  and  stood  upon  the  deck,  obstinately  gazing  toward 
them  till  the  last  speck  had  disappeared. 

The  Sound  being  the  only  frequented  entrance  to  the  Baltic, 
the  great  Mediterranean  of  the  North,  few  parts  of  the  sea 
display  so  frequent  a  navigation.     In  the  height  of  the  season 

1 "  think  of  them  that  sleep 

Full  many  a  fathom  deep, 

By  thy  wild  and  stormy  steep, 

Elsinore." 

Thomas  Campbell. 

2  Queen  Matilda.  —  Queen  of  Denmark,  sister  of  George  III.  She  was 
imprisoned  in  Cronenburg  Castle  in  1784. 


148  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

not  fewer  than  a  hundred  vessels  pass  every  four  and  twenty 
hours  for  many  weeks  in  succession ;  but  never  had  so  busy  or 
so  splendid  a  scene  been  exhibited  there  as  on  this  day,  when 
the  British  fleet  prepared  to  force  that  passage  where  till  now 
all  ships  had  veiled  their  topsails  to  the  flag  of  Denmark. 
The  whole  force  consisted  of  fifty-one  sail  of  various  descrip- 
tions, of  which  sixteen  were  of  the  line.  The  greater  part  of 
the  bomb  and  gun  vessels  took  their  stations  off  Cronenburg 
Castle  to  cover  the  fleet ;  while  others,  on  the  larboard,  were 
ready  to  engage  the  Swedish  shore.  The  Danes,  having  im- 
proved every  moment  which  ill-timed  negotiation  and  baffling 
weather  gave  them,  had  lined  their  shore  with  batteries ;  and 
as  soon  as  the  Monarchy  which  was  the  leading  ship,  came 
abreast  of  them,  a  fire  was  opened  from  about  a  hundred  pieces 
of  cannon  and  mortars;  our  light  vessels  immediately,  in  return, 
opened  their  fire  upon  the  castle. 

Here  were  all  the  pompous  circumstance  and  exciting  reality 
of  war  without  its  effects,  for  this  ostentatious  display  was  but 
a  bloodless  prelude  to  the  wide  and  sweeping  destruction  which 
was  soon  to  follow.  The  enemy's  shot  fell  near  enough  to  splash 
the  water  on  board  our  ships ;  not  relying  upon  any  forbearance 
of  the  Swedes,  they  meant  to  have  kept  the  mid-channel ;  but 
when  they  perceived  that  not  a  shot  was  fired  from  Helsinburg, 
and  that  no  batteries  were  to  be  seen  on  the  Swedish  shore, 
they  inclined  to  that  side,  so  as  completely  to  get  out  of  reach 
of  the  Danish  guns.  The  uninterrupted  blaze  which  was  kept 
up  from  them  till  the  fleet  had  passed  served  only  to  exhilarate 
our  sailors,  and  afford  them  matter  for  jest,  as  the  shot  fell 
in  showers  a  full  cable's  length  short  of  its  destined  aim. 
A  few  rounds  were  returned  from  some  of  our  leading  ships 
till  they  perceived  its  inutility ;  this,  however,  occasioned  the 
only  bloodshed  of  the  day,  some  of  our  men  being  killed  and 
wounded  by  the  bursting  of  a  gun.  As  soon  as  the  main  body 
had  passed  the  gun-vessels  followed,  desisting  from  their  bom- 


BATTLE    OF    THE    BALTIC.  1 49 

bardment,  which  had  been  as  innocent  as  that  of  the  enemy ; 
and  about  mid-day  the  whole  fleet  anchored  between  the  island 
of  Huen  and  Copenhagen.  Sir  Hyde,  with  Nelson,  Admiral 
Graves,  some  of  the  senior  captains,  and  the  commanding 
officers  of  the  artillery  and  the  troops,  then  proceeded  in  a 
lugger  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  means  of  defense,  —  a  for- 
midable line  of  ships,  radeaus,  pontoons,  galleys,  fire-ships,  and 
gun-boats,  flanked  and  supported  by  extensive  batteries,  and 
occupying,  from  one  extreme  point  to  the  other,  an  extent  of 
nearly  four  miles. 

A  council  of  war  was  held  in  the  afternoon.  It  was  apparent 
that  the  Danes  could  not  be  attacked  without  great  difficulty 
and  risk ;  and  some  of  the  members  of  the  council  spoke  of 
the  number  of  the  Swedes  and  the  Russians  whom  they  should 
afterwards  have  to  engage  as  a  consideration  which  ought  to  be 
borne  in  mind.  Nelson,  who  kept  pacing  the  cabin,  impatient 
as  he  ever  was  of  anything  which  savored  of  irresolution, 
repeatedly  said,  "The  more  numerous  the  better;  I  wish  they 
were  twice  as  many  —  the  easier  the  victory,  depend  on  it." 
The  plan  upon  which  he  had  determined,  if  ever  it  should  be 
his  fortune  to  bring  a  Baltic  fleet  to  action,  was  to  attack  the 
head  of  their  line,  and  confuse  their  movements.  "  Close  with 
a  Frenchman,"  he  used  to  say,  "  but  out-manoeuvre  a  Russian." 
He  offered  his  services  for  the  attack,  requiring  ten  sail  of  the 
line  and  the  whole  of  the  smaller  craft.  Sir  Hyde  gave  him 
two  more  line-of-battle  ships  than  he  asked,  and  left  everything 
to  his  judgment. 

The  enemy's  force  was  not  the  only  nor  the  greatest  obstacle 
with  which  the  British  fleet  had  to  contend ;  there  was  another 
to  be  overcome  before  they  could  come  in  contact  with  it.  The 
channel  was  little  known  and  extremely  intricate  ;  all  the  buoys 
had  been  removed,  and  the  Danes  considered  this  difficulty  as 
almost  insuperable,  thinking  the  channel  impracticable  for  so 
large  a  fleet.     Nelson  himself  saw  the  soundings  made  and  the 


150  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

buoys  laid  down,  boating  it  upon  this  exhausting  service,  day 
and  night,  till  it  was  effected.  When  this  was  done  he  thanked 
God  for  having  enabled  him  to  get  through  this  difficult  part  of 
his  duty.  "  It  had  worn  him  down,"  he  said,  "  and  was  infi- 
nitely more  grievous  to  him  than  any  resistance  which  he  could 
experience  from  the  enemy." 

At  the  first  council  of  war, opinions  inclined  to  an  attack  from 
the  eastward ;  but  the  next  day,  the  wind  being  southerly,  after 
a  second  examination  of  the  Danish  position,  it  was  determined 
to  attack  from  the  south,  approaching  in  the  manner  which 
Nelson  suggested  in  his  first  thoughts.  On  the  morning  of  the 
first  of  April  the  whole  fleet  removed  to  an  anchorage  within 
two  leagues  of  the  town,  and  off  the  N.W.  end  of  the  Middle 
Ground  ;  a  shoal  lying  exactly  before  the  town,  at  about  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  distance,  and  extending  along  its  whole  sea 
front.  The  King's  Channel,  where  there  is  deep  water,  is 
between  this  shoal  and  the  town,  and  here  the  Danes  had 
arranged  their  line  of  defense  as  near  the  shore  as  possible  : 
nineteen  ships  and  floating  batteries,  flanked,  at  the  end 
nearest  the  town,  by  the  Crown  Batteries,  which  were  two 
artificial  islands  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor, —  most  formidable 
works,  the  larger  one  having,  by  the  Danish  account,  sixty-six 
guns,  but  as  Nelson  believed,  eighty-eight. 

The  fleet  having  anchored,  Nelson,  with  Riou  in  the  Amazo?t, 
made  his  last  examination  of  the  ground,  and  about  one 
o'clock,  returning  to  his  own  ship,  threw  out  the  signal  to 
weigh.  It  was  received  with  a  shout  throughout  the  whole 
division ;  they  weighed  with  a  light  and  favorable  wind ;  the 
narrow  channel  between  the  island  of  Saltholm  and  the  Middle 
Ground  had  been  accurately  buoyed ;  the  small  craft  pointed 
out  the  course  distinctly ;  Riou  led  the  way ;  the  whole  division 
coasted  along  the  outer  edge  of  the  shoal,  doubled  its  further 
extremity,  and  anchored  there  off  Draco  Point,  just  as  the 
darkness  closed,  the  headmost  of  the  enemy's  line  not  being 


BATTLE  OF  THE  BALTIC.  I5I 

more  than  two  miles  distant.  The  signal  to  prepare  for  action 
had  been  made  early  in  the  evening,  and  as  his  own  anchor 
dropped, Nelson  called  out:  "I  will  fight  them  the  moment  I 
have  a  fair  wind."  It  had  been  agreed  that  Sir  Hyde,  with  the 
remaining  ships,  should  weigh  on  the  following  morning  at  the 
same  time  as  Nelson,  to  menace  the  Crown  Batteries  on  his 
side  and  the  four  ships  of  the  line  which  lay  at  the  entrance  of 
the  arsenal,  and  to  cover  our  own  disabled  ships  as  they  came 
out  of  action. 

The  Danes  meantime  had  not  been  idle  :  no  sooner  did  the 
guns  of  Cronenburg  make  it  known  to  the  whole  city  that  .all 
negotiation  was  at  an  end,  that  the  British  fleet  was  passing  the 
Sound,  and  that  the  dispute  between  the  two  crowns  must 
now  be  decided  by  arms,  than  a  spirit  displayed  itself  most 
honorable  to  the  Danish  character.  All  ranks  offered  them- 
selves to  the  service  of  their  country ;  the  university  furnished 
a  corps  of  twelve  hundred  youths,  the  flower  of  Denmark  :  it 
was  one  of  those  emergencies  in  which  little  drilling  or  disci- 
pline is  necessary  to  render  courage  available;  they  had  nothing 
to  learn  but  how  to  manage  the  guns,  and  were  employed  day 
and  night  in  practicing  them.  1  When  the  movements  of  Nelson's 
squadron  were  perceived,  it  was  known  when  and  where  trie 
attack  was  to  be  expected,  and  the  line  of  defense  was  manned 
indiscriminately  by  soldiers,  sailors,  and  citizens.  Had  nof  the 
whole  attention  of  the  Danes  been  directed  to  strengthen  th^ir 
own  means  of  defense,  they  might  most  materially  have 
annoyed  the  invading  squadron,  and  perhaps  frustrated  the 
impending  attack,  for  the  British  ships  were  crowded  in  an 
anchoring-ground  of  little  extent  ;  it  was  calm,  so  that  mortar- 
boats  might  have  acted  against  them  to  the  utmost  advantage, 
and  they  were  within  range  of  shells  from  Amak  Island.^  A 
few  fell  among  them,  but  the  enemy  soon  ceased  to  fire.  It  was 
learned  afterwards  that,  fortunately  for  the  fleet,  the  bed  of  the 

^  Amak  Island.  —  Copenhagen  is  built  partly  on  this  island. 


152  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

mortar  had  given  way,  and  the  Danes  either  could  not  get  it 
replaced,  or  in  the  darkness  lost  the  direction. 

This  was  an  awful  night  for  Copenhagen  —  far  more  so  than 
for  the  British  fleet,  where  the  men  were  accustomed  to  battle 
and  victory,  and  had  none  of  those  objects  before  their  eyes 
which  render  death  terrible.  Nelson  sat  down  to  table  with  a 
large  party  of  his  officers ;  he  was,  as  he  was  ever  wont  to  be 
when  on  the  eve  of  action,  in  high  spirits,  and  drank  to  a 
leading  wind  and  to  the  success  of  the  morrow.  After  supper 
they  returned  to  their  respective  ships,  except  Riou,  who 
remained  to  arrange  the  order  of  battle  with  Nelson  and  Foley, 
and  to  draw  up  instructions ;  Hardy  meantime  went  in  a  small 
boat  to  examine  the  channel  between  them  and  the  enemy, 
approaching  so  near  that  he  sounded  round  their  leading  ship 
with  a  pole,  lest  the  noise  of  throwing  the  lead  should  discover 
him. 

The  incessant  fatigue  of  body  as  well  as  mind  which  Nelson 
had  undergone  during  the  last  three  days  had  so  exhausted 
him  that  he  was  earnestly  urged  to  go  to  his  cot,  and  his  old 
servant,  Allen,  using  that  kind  of  authority  which  long  and 
affectionate  services  entitled  and  enabled  him  to  assume  on 
such  occasions,  insisted  upon  his  complying.  The  cot  was 
placed  on  the  floor,  and  he  continued  to  dictate  from  it. 
About  eleven.  Hardy  returned,  and  reported  the  practicability 
of  the  channel,  and  the  depth  of  water  up  to  the  enemy's  line. 
About  one  the  orders  were  completed,  and  half  a  dozen  clerk^ 
in  the  foremost  cabin  proceeded  to  transcribe  them.  Nelson 
frequently  calling  out  to  them  from  his  cot  to  hasten  their" 
work,  for  the  wind  was  becoming  fair.  Instead  of  attempting 
to  get  a  few  hours  of  sleep,  he  was  constantly  receiving  reports 
on  this  important  point.  At  daybreak  it  was  announced  as 
becoming  perfectly  fair.  The  clerks  finished  their  work  about 
six.  Nelson,  who  was  already  up,  breakfasted,  and  made 
signal  for  all  captains.     The  land  forces  and  five  hundred  sea- 


BATTLE    OF    THE    BALTIC.  1 53 

men,  under  Captain  Freemantle  and  the  Honorable  Colonel 
Stewart,  were  to  storm  the  Crown  Battery  as  soon  as  its  fire 
should  be  silenced ;  and  Riou  —  whom  Nelson  had  never  seen 
till  this  expedition,  but  whose  worth  he  had  instantly  perceived, 
and  appreciated  as  it  deserved  —  had  the  Blanche  and  Alonene 
frigates,  the  Dart  and  Arrow  sloops,  and  the  Zephyr  and  Otter 
fire-ships,  given  him,  with  a  special  command  to  act  as  cir- 
cumstances might  require  :  every  other  ship  had  its  station 
appointed. 

Between  eight  and  nine  the  pilots  and  masters  were  ordered 
on  board  the  admiral's  ship.  The  pilots  were  mostly  men  who 
had  been  mates  in  Baltic  traders,  and  their  hesitation  about 
the  bearing  of  the  east  end  of  the  shoal  and  the  exact  line  of 
deep  water  gave  ominous  warning  of  how  little  their  knowl- 
edge was  to  be  trusted.  The  signal  for  action  had  been  made, 
the  wind  was  fair  —  not  a  moment  to  be  lost.  Nelson  urged 
them  to  be  steady,  to  be  resolute,  and  to  decide  ;  but  they 
wanted  the  only  ground  for  steadiness  and  decision  in  such 
cases,  and  Nelson  had  reason  to  regret  that  he  had  not  trusted 
to  Hardy's  single  report.  This  was  one  of  the  most  painful 
moments  of  his  life,  and  he  always  spoke  of  it  with  bitterness. 
"  I  experienced  in  the  Sound,"  said  he,  "  the  misery  of  having 
the  honor  of  our  country  intrusted  to  a  set  of  pilots  who  have 
no  other  thought  than  to  keep  the  ships  clear  of  danger,  and 
their  own  silly  heads  clear  of  shot.  Everybody  knows  what  I 
must  have  suffered,  and  if  any  merit  attaches  itself  to  me,  it 
was  for  combating  the  dangers  of  the  shallows  in  defiance  of 
them."  At  length  Mr.  Bryerly,  the  master  of  the  Bellona, 
declared  that  he  was  prepared  to  lead  the  fleet ;  his  judgment 
was  acceded  to  by  the  rest ;  they  returned  to  their  ships,  and 
at  half-past  nine  the  signal  was  made  to  weigh  in  succession. 

At  five  minutes  after  ten  the  action  began.  The  first  half  of 
our  fleet  was  engaged  in  about  half  an  hour,  and  by  half-past 
eleven  the  battle  became  general.     The  plan  of  the  attack  had 


154  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

been  complete ;  but  seldom  has  any  plan  been  more  discon- 
certed by  untoward  accidents.  Of  twelve  ships  of  the  line,  one 
was  entirely  useless,  and  two  others  in  a  situation  where  they 
could  not  render  half  the  service  which  was  required  of  them. 
Of  the  squadron  of  gun-brigs  only  one  could  get  into  action  : 
the  rest  were  prevented  by  baffling  currents  from  weathering 
the  eastern  end  of  the  shoal  ;  and  only  two  of  the  bomb-vessels 
could  reach  their  station  on  the  Middle  Ground,  and  open 
their  mortars  on  the  arsenal,  firing  over  both  fleets.  Riou  took 
the  vacant  station  against  the  Crown  Battery  with  his  frigates, 
attempting  with  that  unequal  force  a  service  in  which  three  sail 
of  the  line  had  been  directed  to  assist. 

Nelson's  agitation  had  been  extreme  when  he  saw  himself, 
before  the  action  began,  deprived  of  a  fourth  part  of  his  ships 
of  the  line ;  but  no  sooner  was  he  in  battle,  where  his  squadron 
was  received  with  the  fire  of  more  than  a  thousand  guns,  than, 
as  if  that  artillery,  like  music,  had  driven  away  all  care  and 
painful  thoughts,  his  countenance  brightened,  and,  as  a 
bystander  describes  him,  his  conversation  became  joyous, 
animated,  elevated,   and  delightful. 

The  commander-in-chief  meantime,  near  enough  to  the  scene 
of  action  to  know  the  unfavorable  accidents  which  had  so 
materially  weakened  Nelson,  and  yet  too  distant  to  know  the 
real  state  of  the  contending  parties,  suffered  the  most  dreadful 
anxiety.  To  get  to  his  assistance  was  impossible;  both  wind 
and  current  were  against  him.  Fear  for  the  event  in  such 
circumstances  would  naturally  preponderate  in  the  bravest 
mind ;  and  at  one  o'clock,  perceiving  that  after  three  hours' 
endurance  the  enemy's  fire  was  unslackened,  he  began  to 
despair  of  success.  "  I  will  make  the  signal  of  recall,"  said  he 
to  his  captain,  ''  for  Nelson's  sake.  If  he  is  in  a  condition  to 
continue  the  action  successfully,  he  will  disregard  it ;  if  he  is 
not,  it  will  be  an  excuse  for  his  retreat,  and  no  blame  can  be 
imputed  to  him."     Captain  Domett  urged  him  at  least  to  delay 


BATTLE    OF    THE    BALTIC.  1 55 

the  signal  till  he  could  communicate  with  Nelson,  but  in  Sir 
Hyde's  opinion  the  danger  was  too  pressing  for  delay.  **  The 
fire,"  he  said,  "  was  too  hot  for  Nelson  to  oppose  ;  a  retreat  he 
thought  must  be  made.  He  was  aware  of  the  consequences  to 
his  own  personal  reputation,  but  it  would  be  cowardly  in  him 
to  leave  Nelson  to  bear  the  whole  shame  of  the  failure,  if  shame 
it  should  be  deemed."  Under  a  mistaken  judgment,  therefore, 
but  with  this  disinterested  and  generous  feeling,  he  made  the 
signal  for  retreat. 

Nelson  was  at  this  time  in  all  the  excitement  of  action, 
pacing  the  quarter-deck.  A  shot  through  the  mainmast 
knocked  the  splinters  about,  and  he  observed  to  one  of  his 
officers  with  a  smile,  ''  It  is  warm  work ;  and  this  day  may  be 
the  last  to  any  of  us  at  a  moment";  and  then  stopping  short 
at  the  gangway,  added  with  emotion,  "  but,  mark  you,  I  would 
not  be  elsewhere  for  thousands."  About  this  time  the  signal 
lieutenant  called  out  that  No.  39  (the  signal  for  discontinuing 
the  action)  was  thrown  out  by  the  commander-in-chief.  He 
continued  to  walk  the  deck,  and  appeared  to  take  no  notice  of 
it.  The  signal  officer  met  him  at  the  next  turn,  and  asked  him 
if  he  should  repeat  it.  "  No,"  he  replied,  "  acknowledge  it." 
Presently  he  called  after  him  to  know  if  the  signal  for  close 
action  was  still  hoisted,  and  being  answered  in  the  affirmative, 
said,  "  Mind  you  keep  it  so."  He  now  paced  the  deck,  moving 
the  stump  of  his  lost  arm  in  a  manner  which  always  indicated 
great  emotion.  *'  Do  you  know,"  said  he  to  Mr.  Ferguson, 
"  what  is  shown  on  board  the  commander-in-chief  ?  No.  39  !  " 
Mr.  Ferguson  asked  what  that  meant.  *'  Why,  to  leave  off 
action  !  "  Then,  shrugging  up  his  shoulders,  he  repeated  the 
words,  "  Leave  off  action  ?  Now,  hang  me  if  I  do  !  You  know, 
Foley,"  turning  to  the  captain,  **I  have  only  one  eye;  I  have  a 
right  to  be  blind  sometimes."  And  then,  putting  the  glass  to 
his  blind  eye  in  that  mood  of  mind  that  sports  with  bitterness, 
he  exclaimed,  "  I  really  do  not  see  the  signal !  "     Presently  he 


IS6  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

exclaimed,  "  Hang  the  signal !  Keep  mine  for  closer  battle 
flying  !  That 's  the  way  I  answer  such  signals  !  Nail  mine  to 
the  mast !  " 

Admiral  Graves,  who  was  so  situated  that  he  could  not  dis- 
cern what  was  done  on  board  the  Elephant^  disobeyed  Sir 
Hyde's  signal  in  like  manner;  whether  by  fortunate  mistake  or 
by  a  like  brave  intention  has  not  been  made  known.  The  other 
ships  of  the  line,  looking  only  to  Nelson,  continued  the  action. 
The  signal,  however,  saved  Riou's  little  squadron,  but  did  not 
save  its  heroic  leader.  This  squadron,  which  was  nearest  the 
commander-in-chief,  obeyed,  and  hauled  off.  It  had  suffered 
severely  in  its  most  unequal  contest.  For  a  long  time  the 
Amazon  had  been  firing,  enveloped  in  smoke,  when  *Riou 
desired  his  men  to  stand  fast,  and  let  the  smoke  clear  off,  that 
they  might  see  what  they  were  about.  A  fatal  order,  for  the 
Danes  then  got  clear  sight  of  her  from  the  batteries,  and 
pointed  their  guns  with  such  tremendous  effect  that  nothing 
but  the  signal  for  retreat  saved  this  frigate  from  destruction. 
"  What  will  Nelson  think  of  us  }  "  was  Riou's  mournful  excla- 
mation when  he  unwillingly  drew  off.  He  had  been  wounded 
in  the  head  by  a  splinter,  and  was  sitting  on  a  gun,  encouraging 
his  men,  when,  just  as  the  Amazon  showed  her  stern  to  the 
Trekroner  Battery,  his  clerk  was  killed  by  his  side,  and 
another  shot  swept  away  several  marines  who  were  hauling 
in  the  mainbrace.  ''  Come,  then,  my  boys,"  cried  Riou,  "  let  us 
all  die  together  !  "  The  words  had  scarcely  been  uttered  before 
a  raking  shot  cut  him  in  two.  Except  it  had  been  Nelson  him- 
self, the  British  navy  could  not  have  suffered  a  severer  loss. 

The  action  continued  along  the  line  with  unabated  vigor  on 
our  side,  and  with  the  most  determined  resolution  on  the  part 
of  the  Danes.  They  fought  to  great  advantage,  because  most 
of  the  vessels  in  their  line  of  defense  were  without  masts ;  the 
few  which  had  any  standing  had  their  topmasts  struck,  and  the 
hulls  could  only  be  seen  at  intervals. 


BATTLE    OF    THE    BALTIC.  1 5/ 

The  Prince  Royal  had  taken  his  station  upon  one  of  the 
batteries,  from  whence  he  beheld  the  action  and  issued  his 
orders.  Denmark  had  never  been  engaged  in  so  arduous  a 
contest,  and  never  did  the  Danes  more  nobly  display  their 
national  courage,  —  a  courage  not  more  unhappily  than  impoli- 
ticly exerted  in  subserviency  to  the  interest  of  France.  Captain 
Thura,  of  the  Indfoedsretten,  fell  early  in  the  action,  and  all 
his  officers,  except  one  lieutenant  and  one  marine  officer,  were 
either  killed  or  wounded.  In  the  confusion  the  colors  were 
either  struck  or  shot  away ;  but  she  was  moored  athwart  one 
of  the  batteries  in  such  a  situation  that  the  British  made  no 
attempt  to  board  her,  and  a  boat  was  dispatched  to  the  prince 
to  inform  him  of  her  situation.  He  turned  to  those  about  him, 
and  said,  "  Gentlemen,  Thura  is  killed ;  which  of  you  will  take 
the  command  ? "  Schroedersee,  a  captain  who  had  lately 
resigned  on  account  of  extreme  ill  health,  answered  in  a  feeble 
voice,  "  I  will !  "  and  hastened  on  board.  The  crew,  perceiving 
a  new  commander  coming  alongside,  hoisted  their  colors  again, 
and  fired  a  broadside.  Schroedersee,  when  he  came  on  deck, 
found  himself  surrounded  by  the  dead  and  wounded,  and  called 
to  those  in  the  boat  to  get  quickly  on  board  ;  a  ball  struck  him 
at  that  moment.  A  lieutenant  who  had  accompanied  him  then 
took  the  command,  and  continued  to  light  the  ship.  A  youth 
of  seventeen,  by  name  Villemoes,,  particularly  distinguished 
himself  on  this  memorable  day.  He  had  volunteered  to  take 
the  command  of  a  floating  battery,  which  was  a  raft,  consisting 
merely  of  a  number  of  beams  nailed  together,  with  a  flooring 
to  support  the  guns ;  it  was  square,  with  a  breastwork  full  of 
port-holes,,  and  without  masts  —  carrying  twenty-four  guns  and 
1 20  men.  With  this  he  got  under  the  stern  of  the  Elephant, 
below  the  reach  of  the  stern-chasers  ;  and  under  a  heavy  fire  of 
small  arms  from  the  marines,  fought  his  raft,  till  the  truce  was 
announced,  with  such  skill  as  well  as  courage  as  to  excite 
Nelson^s  warmest  admiration. 


158  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

Between  one  and  two  the  fire  of  the  Danes  slackened  ;  about 
two  it  ceased  from  the  greater  part  of  their  line,  and  some  of 
their  lighter  ships  were  adrift.  It  was,  however,  difficult  to 
take  possession  of  those  which  struck,  because  the  batteries  on 
Amak  Island  protected  them,  and  because  an  irregular  fire  was 
kept  up  from  the  ships  themselves  as  the  boats  approached. 
This  arose  from  the  nature  of  the  action.  The  crews  were 
continually  reinforced  from  the  shore,  and  fresh  men  coming 
on  board  did  not  inquire  whether  the  flag  had  been  struck,  or 
perhaps  did  not  heed  it ;  many  or  most  of  them  never  having 
been  engaged  in  war  before,  knowing  nothing  therefore  of  its 
laws,  and  thinking  only  of  defending  their  country  to  the  last 
extremity.  The  Dannebrog  fired  upon  the  Elephanfs  boats  in 
this  manner,  though  her  commodore  had  removed  her  pendant 
and  deserted  her,  though  she  had  struck,  and  though  she  was 
in  flames.  After  she  had  been  abandoned  by  the  commodore, 
Braun  fought  her  till  he  lost  his  right  hand,  and  then  Captain 
Lemming  took  the  command.  This  unexpected  renewal  of  her 
fire  made  the  Elephant  and  Glatton  renew  theirs,  till  she  was 
not  only  silenced,  but  nearly  every  man  in  the  praams  ahead 
and  astern  of  her  was  killed.  When  the  smoke  of  their  guns 
died  away  she  was  seen  drifting  in  flames  before  the  wind, 
those  of  her  crew  who  remained  alive  and  able  to  exert  them- 
selves throwing  themselves  out  at  her  port-holes. 

By  half-past  two  the  action  had  ceased  along  that  part  of  the 
line  which  was  astern  of  the  Elephant^  but  not  with  the  ships 
ahead  and  the  Crown  Batteries.  Nelson,  seeing  the  manner 
in  which  his  boats  were  fired  upon  when  they  went  to  take 
possession  of  the  prizes,  became  angry,  and  said  he  must  either 
send  on  shore  to  have  this  irregular  proceeding  stopped,  or 
send  a  fire-ship  and  burn  them.  Half  the  shot  from  the 
Trekroner  and  from  the  batteries  at  Amak  at  this  time  struck 
the  surrendered  ships,  four  of  which  had  got  close  together, 
and  the  fire  of  the  English  in  return  was  equally  or  even  more 


BATTLE  OF  THE  BALTIC.  159 

destructive  to  these  poor  devoted  Danes.  Nelson,  who  was  as 
humane  as  he  was  brave,  was  shocked  at  this  massacre  —  for 
such  he  called  it  —  and,  with  a  presence  of  mind  peculiar  to 
himself,  and  never  more  signally  displayed  than  now,  he  retired 
into  the  stern  galley,  and  wrote  thus  to  the  Crown  Prince  : 
"  Vice-admiral  Lord  Nelson  has  been  commanded  to  spare 
Denmark  when  she  no  longer  resists.  The  line  of  defense 
which  covered  her  shores  has  struck  to  the  British  flag ;  but  if 
the  firing  is  continued  on  the  part  of  Denmark,  he  must  set  on 
fire  all  the  prizes  that  he  has  taken,  without  having  the  power 
of  saving  the  men  who  have  so  nobly  defended  them.  The 
brave  Danes  are  the  brothers  and  should  never  be  the  enemies 
of  the  English."  A  wafer  was  given  him,  but  he  ordered  a 
candle  to  be  brought  from  the  cockpit,  and  sealed  the  letter 
with  wax,  affixing  a  larger  seal  than  he  ordinarily  used. 
"  This,"  said  he,  "  is  no  time  to  appear  hurried  and  informal." 
Captain  Sir  Frederick  Thesiger,  who  acted  as  his  aide-de-camp, 
carried  this  letter  with  a  flag  of  truce.  Meantime  the  fire  of 
ships  ahead,  and  the  appoach  of  the  Ramilies  and  Defence  from 
Sir  Hyde's  division,  which  had  now  worked  near  enough  to 
alarm  the  enemy,  though  not  to  injure  them,  silenced  the 
remainder  of  the  Danish  line  to  the  eastward  of  the  Trekroner. 
That  battery,  however,  continued  its  fire.  This  formidable 
work,  owing  to  the  want  of  the  ships  which  had  been  destined 
to  attack  it,  and  the  inadequate  force  of  Riou's  little  squadron, 
was  comparatively  uninjured.  Towards  the  close  of  the  action 
it  had  been  manned  with  nearly  fifteen  hundred  men,  and  the 
intention  of  storming  it,  for  which  every  preparation  had  been 
made,  was  abandoned  as  impracticable. 

During  Thesiger's  absence  Nelson  sent  for  Freemantle  from 
the  Ganges^  and  consulted  with  him  and  Foley,  whether  it  was 
advisable  to  advance  with  those  ships  which  had  sustained  least 
damage  against  the  yet  uninjured  part  of  the  Danish  line. 
They  were   decidedly  of   opinion  that  the   best  thing  which 


i6o  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

could  be  done  was,  while  the  wind  continued  fair,  to  remove 
the  fleet  out  of  the  intricate  channel  from  which  it  had  to 
retreat.  In  somewhat  more  than  half  an  hour  after  Thesiger 
had  been  dispatched,  the  Danish  adjutant-general,  Lindholm, 
came  bearing  a  flag  of  truce  ;  upon  which  the  Trekroner  ceased 
to  fire,  and  the  action  closed,  after  four  hours'  continuance. 
He  brought  an  inquiry  from  the  prince  :  What  was  the  object 
of  Nelson's  note  ?  The  British  admiral  wrote  in  reply:  "Lord 
Nelson's  object  in  sending  the  flag  of  truce  was  humanity ;  he 
therefore  consents  that  hostilities  shall  cease,  and  that  the 
wounded  Danes  may  be  taken  on  shore.  And  Lord  Nelson 
will  take  his  prisoners  out  of  the  vessels,  and  burn  or  carry  off 
his  prizes  as  he  shall  think  fit.  Lord  Nelson,  with  humble 
duty  to  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince,  will  consider  this  the 
greatest  victory  he  has  ever  gained  if  it  may  be  the  cause  of 
a  happy  reconciliation  and  union  between  his  own  most  gracious 
sovereign  and  his  Majesty  the  King  of  Denmark."  Sir  Fred- 
erick Thesiger  was  dispatched  a  second  time  with  the  reply ; 
and  the  Danish  adjutant-general  was  referred  to  the  commander- 
in-chief  for  a  conference  upon  this  overture.  Lindholm  assent- 
ing to  this,  proceeded  to  the  London^  which  was  riding  at 
anchor  full  four  miles  off ;  and  Nelson,  losing  not  one  of  the 
critical  moments  which  he  had  thus  gained,  made  signal  for  his 
leading  ships  to  weigh  in  succession  —  they  had  the  shoal  to 
clear,  they  were  much  crippled,  and  their  course  was  immedi- 
ately under  the  guns  of  the  Trekroner. 

The  Monarch  led  the  way.  This  ship  had  received  six  and 
twenty  shot  between  wind  and  water.  She  had  not  a  shroud 
standing ;  there  was  a  double-headed  shot  in  the  heart  of  her 
foremast ;  and  the  slightest  wind  would  have  sent  every  mast 
over  her  side.^     The  imminent  danger  from  which  Nelson  had 

1  It  would  have  been  well  if  the  fleet,  before  they  went  under  the  batter- 
ies, had  left  their  spare  spars  moored  out  of  reach  of  shot.  Many  would 
have  been  saved  which  were  destroyed  lying  on  the  booms,  and  the  hurt 


BATTLE  OF  THE  BALTIC.  l6l 

extricated  himself  soon  became  apparent ;  the  Monarch  touched 
immediately  upon  a  shoal,  over  which  she  was  pushed  by  the 
Ganges  taking  her  amidships ;  the  Glatton  went  clear  ;  but  the 
other  two,  the  Defiance  and  the  Elephant,  grounded  about  a  mile 
from  the  Trekroner,  and  there  remained  fixed  for  many  hours, 
in  spite  of  all  the  exertions  of  their  wearied  crews.  The  Desiree 
frigate  also,  at  the  other  end  of  the  line,  having  gone  towards 
the  close  of  the  action  to  assist  the  Bellona,  became  fast  on  the 
same  shoal.  Nelson  left  the  Elephant,  soon  after  she  took  the 
ground,  to  follow  Lindholm.  The  heat  of  action  was  over,  and 
that  kind  of  feeling  which  the  surrounding  scene  of  havoc  was 
so  well  fitted  to  produce  pressed  heavily  upon  his  exhausted 
spirits.  The  sky  had  suddenly  become  overcast  ;  white  flags 
were  waving  from  the  mastheads  of  so  many  shattered  ships ; 
the  slaughter  had  ceased  ;  but  the  grief  was  to  come,  for  the 
account  of  the  dead  was  not  yet  made  up,  and  no  man  could 
tell  for  what  friends  he  would  have  to  mourn.  The  very  silence 
which  follows  the  cessation  of  such  a  battle  becomes  a  weight 
upon  the  heart  at  first,  rather  than  a  relief;  and  though  the 
work  of  mutual  destruction  was  at  an  end,  the  Danbrog  was  at 
this  time  drifting  about  in  flames  ;  presently  she  blew  up,  while 
our  boats,  which  had  put  off  in  all  directions  to  assist  her,  were 
endeavoring  to  pick  up  her  devoted  crew,  few  of  whom  could 
be  saved. 

The  fate  of  these  men,  after  the  gallantry  which  they  had 
displayed,  particularly  affected  Nelson ;  for  there  was  nothing 
in  this  action  of  that  indignation  against  the  enemy,  and  that 
impression  of  retributive  justice,  which  at  the  Nile  had  given 
a  sterner  temper  to  his  mind,  and  a  sense  of  austere  delight 
in   beholding  the  vengeance  of  which   he  was  the   appointed 

done  by  their  splinters  would  have  been  saved  also.  Small  craft  could 
have  towed  them  up  when  they  were  required,  and  after  such  an  action  so 
many  must  necessarily  be  wanted,  that  if  those  which  were  not  in  use  were 
•wounded,  it  might  thus  have  been  rendered  impossi'ble  to  refit  the  ships. 


.^ 


162       li^^        southey's  life  of  nelson. 


minister.  The  Danes  were  an  honorable  foe  ;  they  were  of 
English  mould  as  well  as  English  blood;  and  now  that  the 
battle  had  ceased,  he  regarded  them  rather  as  brethren  than 
as  enemies.  There  was  another  reflection  also,  which  mingled 
with  these  melancholy  thoughts,  and  predisposed  him  to  receive 
them.  He  was  not  here  master  of  his  own  movements,  as  at 
Egypt :  he  had  won  the  day  by  disobeying  his  orders  ;  and  in 
so  far  as  he  had  been  successful,  had  convicted  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  an  error  in  judgment.  "Well,"  said  he  as  he  left 
the  Elephant^  "  I  have  fought  contrary  to  orders,  and  I  shall 
perhaps  be  hanged  !     Never  mind,  let  them  ! '' 

This  was  the  language  of  a  man  who,  while  he  is  giving 
utterance  to  an  uneasy  thought,  clothes  it  half  in  jest  because 
he  half  repents  that  it  has  been  disclosed.  His  services  had 
been  too  eminent  on  that  day,  his  judgment  too  conspicuous, 
his  success  too  signal,  for  any  commander,  however  jealous  of 
his  own  authority,  or  envious  of  another's  merits,  to  express 
anything  but  satisfaction  and  gratitude,  which  Sir  Hyde  heartily 
felt  and  sincerely  expressed.  It  was  speedily  agreed  that  there 
should  be  a  suspension  of  hostilities  for  four  and  twenty  hours  ; 
that  all  the  prizes  should  be  surrendered  and  the  wounded 
Danes  carried  on  shore.  There  was  a  pressing  necessity  for 
this,  for  the  Danes — either  from  too  much  confidence  in  the 
strength  of  their  position  and  the  difficulty  of  the  channel,  or 
supposing  that  the  wounded  might  be  carried  on  shore  during 
the  action,  which  was  found  totally  impracticable,  or  perhaps 
from  the  confusion  which  the  attack  excited — had  provided  no 
surgeons ;  so  that  when  our  men  boarded  the  captured  ships 
they  found  many  of  the  mangled  and  mutilated  Danes  bleeding 
to  death  for  want  of  proper  assistance,  —  a  scene  of  all  others 
the  most  shocking  to  a  brave  man's  feelings. 

This  was  indeed  a  mournful  day  for  Copenhagen.  It  was 
Good  Friday;  but  the  general  agitation  and  the  mourning 
which  was   in  every  house  made   all  distinction   of    days  be 


BATTLE    OF    THE    BALTIC.  1 63 

forgotten.  There  were  at  that  hour  thousands  in  that  city 
who  felt,  and  more  perhaps  who  needed,  the  consolations  of 
Christianity,  but  few  or  none  who  could  be  calm  enough  to 
think  of  its  observances.  The  English  were  actively  employed 
in  refitting  their  own  ships,  securing  the  prizes,  and  distribut- 
ing the  prisoners;  the  Danes,  in  carrying  on  shore  and  dispos- 
ing of  the  wounded  and  the  dead.  It  had  been  a  murderous 
action.  Our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  nine  hundred  and 
fifty-three.  Part  of  this  slaughter  might  have  been  spared. 
The  commanding  officer  of  the  troops  on  board  one  of  our 
ships  asked  where  his  men  should  be  stationed.  He  was  told 
that  they  could  be  of  no  use  ;  that  they  were  not  near  enough 
for  musketry,  and  were  not  wanted  at  the  guns  ;  they  had 
therefore  better  go  below.  This,  he  said  was  impossible,  —  it 
would  be  a  disgrace  that  could  never  be  wiped  away.  They 
were  therefore  drawn  up  upon  the  gangway,  to  satisfy  this 
cruel  point  of  honor  ;  and  there,  without  the  possibility  of  annoy- 
ing the  enemy,  they  were  mowed  down  !  The  loss  of  the  Danes, 
including  prisoners,  amounted  to  about  six  thousand. 

The  negotiations  meantime  went  on,  and  it  was  agreed  that 
Nelson  should  have  an  interview  with  the  prince  the  following 
day.  Hardy  and  Freemantle  landed  with  him.  This  was  a 
thing  as  unexampled  as  the  other  circumstances  of  the  battle. 
A  strong  guard  was  appointed  to  escort  him  to  the  palace,  as 
much  for  the  purpose  of  security  as  of  honor.  The  populace, 
according  to  the  British  account,  showed  a  mixture  of  admira- 
tion, curiosity,  and  displeasure  at  beholding  that  man  in  the 
midst  of  them  who  had  inflicted  such  wounds  upon  Denmark. 
But  there  were  neither  acclamations  nor  murmurs.  **  The 
people,"  says  a  Dane,  "  did  not  degrade  themselves  with  the 
former,  nor  disgrace  themselves  with  the  latter:  the  admiral  was 
received  as  one  brave  enemy  ever  ought  to  receive  another.  He 
was  received  with  respect."  The  preliminaries  of  the  negotia- 
tion were  adjusted  at  this  interview.     During  the  repast  which 


164  SOUTHEY*S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

followed,  Nelson,  with  all  the  sincerity  of  his  character,  bore 
willing. testimony  to  the  valor  of  his  foes.  He  told  the  prince 
that  he  had  been  in  a  hundred  and  five  engagements,  but  that 
this  was  the  most  tremendous  of  all.  "  The  French,"  he  said, 
**  fought  bravely ;  but  they  could  not  have  stood  for  one  hour 
the  fight  which  the  Danes  supported  for  four.''  He  requested 
that  Villemoes  might  be  introduced  to  him;  and  shaking  hands 
with  the  youth,  told  the  prince  that  he  ought  to  be  made  an 
admiral.  The  prince  replied :  **  If,  my  lord,  I  am  to  make  all 
my  brave  officers  admirals,  I  should  have  no  captains  or  lieu- 
tenants in  my  service." 

The  sympathy  of  the  Danes  for  their  countrymen  who  had 
bled  in  their  defense  was  not  weakened  by  distance  of  time  or 
place  in  this  instance.  Things  needful  for  the  service  or  the 
comfort  of  the  wounded  were  sent  in  profusion  to  the  hospitals, 
till  the  superintendents  gave  public  notice  that  they  could  re- 
ceive no  more.  On  the  third  day  after  the  action  the  dead 
were  buried  in  the  naval  churchyard;  the  ceremony  was  made 
as  public  and  as  solemn  as  the  occasion  required,  —  such  a 
procession  had  never  before  been  seen  in  that  or  perhaps  in 
any  other  city.  A  public  monument  was  erected  upon  the 
spot  where  the  slain  were  gathered  together.  A  subscription 
was  opened  on  the  day  of  the  funeral  for  the  relief  of  the 
sufferers,  and  collections  in  aid  of  it  made  throughout  all  the 
churches  in  the  kingdom.  This  appeal  to  the  feelings  of  the 
people  was  made  with  circumstances  which  gave  it  full  effect. 
A  monument  was  raised  in  the  midst  of  the  church,  surmounted 
by  the  Danish  colors  :  young  maidens,  dressed  in  white,  stood 
round  it,  with  either  one  who  had  been  wounded  in  the  battle, 
or  the  widow  and  orphans  of  some  one  who  had  fallen;  a 
suitable  oration  was  delivered  from  the  pulpit,  and  patriotic 
hymns  and  songs  were  afterwards  performed.  Medals  were 
distributed  to  all  the  officers  and  to  the  men  who  had  distin- 
guished themselves.     Poets  and  painters  vied  with  each  other 


BATTLE  OF  THE  BALTIC.  l6$ 

in  celebrating  a  battle  which,  disastrous  as  it  was,  had  yet 
been  honorable  to  their  country ;  some,  with  pardonable  soph- 
istry, represented  the  advantage  of  the  day  as  on  their  own 
side.  One  writer  discovered  a  more  curious  but  less  disputa- 
ble ground  of  satisfaction  in  the  reflection  that  Nelson,  as  may 
be  inferred  from  his  name,  was  of  Danish  descent,  and  his 
actions,  therefore,  the  Dane  argued,  were  attributable  to  Danish 
valor. 

The  negotiation  was  continued  during  the  five  following  days, 
and  in  that  interval  the  prizes  were  disposed  of  in  a  manner 
which  was  little  approved  by  Nelson.  Six  line-of-battle  ships 
and  eight  praams  had  been  taken.  Of  these,  the  Holstein^ 
sixty-four,  was  the  only  one  which  was  sent  home. 

The  Zealand  was  a  finer  ship,  but  the  Zealand  and  all  the 
others  were  burned,  and  their  brass  battering  cannon  sunk  with 
the  hulls  in  such  shoal  water  that  when  the  fleet  returned  from 
Revel  they  found  the  Danes  with  craft  over  the  wrecks  em- 
ployed in  getting  the  guns  up  again.  Nelson,  though  he  for- 
bore from  any  public  expression  of  displeasure  at  seeing  the 
proofs  and  trophies  of  his  victory  destroyed,  did  not  forget  to 
represent  to  the  Admiralty  the  case  of  those  who  were  thus 
deprived  of  their  prize-money. 

"  Whether,"  said  he  to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  "  Sir  Hyde  Parker 
may  mention  the  subject  to  you,  I  know  not,  for  he  is  rich 
and  does  not  want  it ;  nor  is  it,  you  will  believe  me,  any  desire 
to  get  a  few  hundred  pounds  that  actuates  me  to  address  this 
letter  to  you,  but  justice  to  the  brave  officers  and  men  who 
fought  on  that  day.  It  is  true  our  opponents  were  in  hulks 
and  floats,  only  adapted  for  the  position  they  were  in  ;  but 
that  made  our  battle  so  much  the  harder,  and  victory  so  much 
the  more  difficult  to  obtain.  Believe  me,  I  have  weighed  all 
the  circumstances,  and  in  my  conscience  I  think  that  the  King 
should  send  a  gracious  message  to  the  House  of  Commons  for 
a  gift  to  this  fleet ;  for  what  mu^t  bg  the  natural  feelings  of 


1 66  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

the  officers  and  men  belonging  to  it,  to  see  their  rich  com- 
mander-in-chief burn  all  the  fruits  of  their  victory,  which,  if 
fitted  up  and  sent  to  England  (as  many  of  them  might  have 
been  by  dismantling  part  of  our  fleet),  would  have  sold  for  a 
good  round  sum?  " 

On  the  9th  Nelson  landed  again,  to  conclude  the  terms  of 
the  armistice.  During  its  continuance  the  armed  ships  and 
vessels  of  Denmark  were  to  remain  in  their  then  actual  situa- 
tion as  to  armament,  equipment,  and  hostile  position;  and  the 
treaty  of  armed  neutrality,  as  far  as  related  to  the  cooperation 
of  Denmark,  was  suspended.  The  prisoners  were  to  be  sent 
on  shore ;  an  acknowledgment  being  given  for  them,  and  for 
the  wounded  also,  that  they  might  be  carried  to  Great  Britain's 
credit  in  the  account  of  war,  in  case  hostilities  should  be  re- 
newed. The  British  fleet  was  allowed  to  provide  itself  with 
all  things  requisite  for  the  health  and  comfort  of  its  men. 
A  difficulty  arose  respecting  the  duration  of  the  armistice.  The 
Danish  commissioners  fairly  stated  their  fears  of  Russia ;  and 
Nelson,  with  that  frankness  which  sound  policy  and  the  sense 
of  power  seem  often  to  require  as  well  as  justify  in  diplomacy, 
told  them  his  reason  for  demanding  a  long  term  was,  that  he 
might  have  time  to  act  against  the  Russian  fleet,  and  then 
return  to  Copenhagen.  Neither  party  would  yield  upon  this 
point ;  and  one  of  the  Danes  hinted  at  the  renewal  of  hostili- 
ties. "  Renew  hostilities  !  "  cried  Nelson  to  one  of  his  friends, 
for  he  understood  French  enough  to  comprehend  what  was 
said,  though  not  to  answer  it  in  the  same  language.  "Tell 
him  we  are  ready  at  a  moment !  ready  to  bombard  this  very 
night !  " 

The  conference,  however,  proceeded  amicably  on  both  sides; 
and  as  the  commissioners  could  not  agree  upon  this  head,  they 
broke  up,  leaving  Nelson  to  settle  it  with  the  prince.  A  levee 
was  held  forthwith  in  one  of  the  staterooms  ;  a  scene  well 
suited  for  such  a  consultation,  for  all  these  rooms  had  been 


BATTLE    OF    THE    BALTIC.  1 6/ 

stripped  of  their  furniture,  in  fear  of  a  bombardment.  To  a 
bombardment  also  Nelson  was  looking  at  this  time.  Fatigue 
and  anxiety,  and  vexation  at  the  dilatory  measures  of  the 
commander-in-chief,  combined  to  make  him  irritable ;  and  as 
he  was  on  the  way  to  the  prince's  dining-room  he  whispered  to 
the  officer  on  whose  arm  he  was  leaning,  *'  Though  I  have  only 
one  eye,  I  can  see  that  all  this  will  burn  well."  After  dinner 
he  was  closeted  with  the  prince,  and  they  agreed  that  the 
armistice  should  continue  fourteen  weeks,  and  that  at  its  ter- 
mination fourteen  days'  notice  should  be  given  before  the 
recommencement  of  hostilities. 

For  the  battle  of  Copenhagen^  Nelson  was  raised  to  the  rank 
of  viscount,  an  inadequate  mark  of  reward  for  services  so 
splendid  and  of  such  paramount  importance  to  the  dearest 
interests  of  England.  There  was,  however,  some  prudence  in 
dealing  out  honors  to  him  step  by  step  ;  had  he  lived  long 
enough  he  would  have  fought  his  way  up  to  a  dukedom. 

1  Southey's  animated  description  of  this  battle  no  doubt  inspired 
Campbell's  noble  lines, 

"  Of  Nelson  and  the  North 
Sing  the  glorious  day's  renown." 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

NELSON    AGAIN    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN. 

WHEN  Nelson  informed  Earl  St.  Vincent  that  the  armis- 
tice had  been  concluded,  he  told  him  also  without 
reserve  his  own  discontent  at  the  dilatoriness  and  indecision 
which  he  witnessed  and  could  not  remedy.  **  No  man/'  said 
he,  "  but  those  who  are  on  the  spot  can  tell  what  I  have  gone 
through  and  do  suffer.  I  make  no  scruple  in  saying  that  I 
would  have  been  at  Revel  fourteen  days  ago;  that  without  this 
armistice  the  fleet  would  never  have  gone  but  by  order  of  the 
Admiralty,  and  with  it  I  dare  say  we  shall  not  go  this  week.  I 
wanted  Sir  Hyde  to  let  me  at  least  go  and  cruise  off  Carls- 
crona,  to  prevent  the  Revel  ships  from  getting  in.  I  said  I 
would  not  go  to  Revel  to  take  any  of  those  laurels  which  I  was 
sure  he  would  reap  there.  Think  for  me,  my  dear  lord,  and  if 
I  have  deserved  well  let  me  return ;  if  ill,  for  Heaven's  sake 
supersede  me,  for  I  cannot  exist  in  this  state." 

Fatigue,  incessant  anxiety,  and  a  climate  little  suited  to  one 
of  a  tender  constitution,  which  had  now  for  many  years  been 
accustomed  to  more  genial  latitudes,  made  him  at  this  time 
seriously  determine  upon  returning  home.  **  If  the  northern 
business  were  not  settled,"  he  said,  "  they  must  send  more 
admirals,  for  the  keen  air  of  the  north  had  cut  him  to  the 
heart."  He  felt  the  want  of  activity  and  decision  in  the  com- 
mander-in-chief more  keenly,  and  this  affected  his  spirits,  and 
consequently  his  health,  more  than  the  inclemency  of  the 
Baltic. 

Soon  after  the  armistice  was  signed  Sir  Hyde  proceeded  to 
the  eastward  with  such  ships  as  were  fit  for  service,  leaving 


NELSON    AGAIN    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  1 69 

Nelson  to  follow  with  the  rest  as  soon  as  those  which  had 
received  slight  damages  should  be  repaired  and  the  rest  sent  to 
England.  In  passing  between  the  isles  of  Amak  and  Saltholm 
most  of  the  ships  touched  the  ground,  and  some  of  them. stuck 
fast  for  awhile ;  no  serious  injury,  however,  was  sustained. 
It  was  intended  to  act  against  the  Russians  first  before  the 
breaking  up  of  the  frost  should  enable  them  to  leave  Revel ; 
but  learning  on  the  way  that  the  Swedes  had  put  to  sea  to 
effect  a  junction  with  them.  Sir  Hyde  altered  his  course  in 
hopes  of  intercepting  this  part  of  the  enemy's  force. 

Nelson  had  at  this  time  provided  for  the  more  pressing 
emergencies  of  the  service,  and  prepared  on  the  i8th  to  follow 
the  fleet.  The  St.  George  drew  too  much  water  to  pass  the 
channel  between  the  isles  without  being  lightened ;  the  guns 
were  therefore  taken  out  and  put  on  board  an  American  vessel. 
A  contrary  wind,  however,  prevented  Nelson  from  moving, 
and  on  that  same  evening,  while  he  was  thus  delayed,  informa- 
tion reached  him  of  the  relative  situation  of  the  Swedish  and 
British  fleets,  and  the  probability  of  an  action.  The  fleet  was 
nearly  ten  leagues  distant,  and  both  wind  and  current  con- 
trary, but  it  was  not  possible  that  Nelson  could  wait  for  a 
favorable  season  under  such  an  expectation.  He  ordered  his 
boat  immediately,  and  stepped  into  it.  Night  was  setting  in  — 
one  of  the  cold  spring  nights  of  the  north,  —  and  it  was  dis- 
covered, soon  after  they  had  left  the  ship,  that  in  their  haste 
they  had  forgotten  to  provide  him  with  a  boat-cloak.  He, 
however  forbade  them  to  return  for  one ;  and  when  one  of  his 
companions  offered  his  own  greatcoat,  and  urged  him  to  make 
use  of  it,  he  replied:  *'  I  thank  you  very  much;  but,  to  tell  you 
the  truth,  my  anxiety  keeps  me  sufficiently  warm  at  present." 

"Do  you  think,"  said  he  presently,  "that  our  fleet  has 
quitted  Bornholm?  If  it  has,  we  must  follow  it  to  Carlscrona." 
About  midnight  he  reached  it,  and  once  more  got  on  board  the 
Elephant.     On  the  following  morning  the   Swedes  were  dis- 


I/O  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

covered ;  as  soon,  however,  as  they  perceived  the  English  ap- 
proaching they  retired,  and  took  shelter  in  Carlscrona,  behind 
the  batteries  on  the  island  at  the  entrance  of  that  port.  Sir 
Hyde  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce,  stating  that  Denmark  had  concluded 
an  armistice,  and  requiring  an  explicit  declaration  from  the 
Court  of  Sweden,  whether  it  would  adhere  to  or  abandon  the 
hostile  measures  which  it  had  taken  against  the  rights  and 
interests  of  Great  Britain.  The  commander.  Vice-admiral 
Cronstadt,  replied  that  "  he  could  not  answer  a  question  which 
did  not  come  within  the  particular  circle  of  his  duty,  but  that 
the  king  was  then  at  Maloe,  and  would  soon  be  at  Carlscrona." 

Gustavus  shortly  afterwards  arrived,  and  an  answer  was  then 
returned  to  this  effect:  "That  his  Swedish  Majesty  would  not 
for  a  moment  fail  to  fulfil,  with  fidelity  and  sincerity,  the 
engagement  he  had  entered  into  with  his  allies,  but  he  would 
not  refuse  to  listen  to  equitable  proposals  made  by  deputies 
furnished  with  proper  authority  by  the  King  of  Great  Britain 
to  the  united  northern  Powers." 

Satisfied  with  this  answer,  and  with  the  known  disposition 
of  the  Swedish  Court,  Sir  Hyde  sailed  for  the  Gulf  of  Finland, 
but  he  had  not  proceeded  far  before  a  dispatch  boat  from  the 
Russian  ambassador  at  Copenhagen  arrived,  bringing  intelli- 
gence of  the  death  of  the  Emperor  Paul,  and  that  his  successor, 
Alexander,  had  accepted  the  offer  made  by  England  to  his 
father  —  of  terminating  the  dispute  by  a  convention.  The 
British  admiral  was  therefore  required  to  desist  from  all 
further  hostilities. 

It  was  Nelson's  maxim,  that,  to  negotiate  with  effect,  force 
should  be  at  hand,  and  in  a  situation  to  act.  The  fleet,  having 
been  reinforced  from  England,  amounted  to  eighteen  sail  of 
the  line,  and  the  wind  was  fair  for  Revel.  There  he  would 
have  sailed  immediately,  to  place  himself  between  that  division 
of  the  Russian  fleet  and  the  squadron  at  Cronstadt,  in  case  this 
offer  should  prove  insincere.     Sir  Hyde,  on  the  other  hand, 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      I71 

believed  that  the  death  of  Paul  had  effected  all  that  was  neces- 
sary. The  manner  of  that  death,  indeed,  rendered  it  apparent 
that  a  change  of  policy  would  take  place  in  the  Cabinet  of 
Petersburg;  but  Nelson  never  trusted  anything  to  the  uncertain 
events  of  time  which  could  possibly  be  secured  by  promptitude 
or  resolution.  It  was  not,  therefore,  without  severe  mortifica- 
tion that  he  saw  the  commander-in-chief  return  to  the  coast  of 
Zealand,  and  anchor  in  Kioge  Bay,  there  to  wait  patiently  for 
what  might  happen. 

There  the  fleet  remained  till  dispatches  arrived  from  home, 
on  the  5th  of  May,  recalling  Sir  Hyde  and  appointing  Nelson 
commander-in-chief. 

Not  a  moment  was  now  lost.  His  first  signal  as  commander- 
in-chief  was  to  hoist  in  all  launches  and  prepare  to  weigh,  and 
on  the  7th  sailed  from  Kioge.  Part  of  his  fleet  was  left  at 
Bornholm  to  watch  the  Swedes,  from  whom  he  required  and 
obtained  an  assurance  that  the  British  trade  in  the  Cattegat 
and  in  the  Baltic  should  not  be  molested ;  and  saying  how 
unpleasant  it  would  be  to  him  if  anything  should  happen  which 
might  for  a  moment  disturb  the  returning  l>armony  between 
Sweden  and  Great  Britain,  he  apprised  them  that  he  was  not 
directed  to  abstain  from  hostilities  should  he  meet  with  the 
Swedish  fleet  at  sea. 

Meantime,  he  himself,  with  ten  sail  of  the  line,  two  frigates, 
a  brig,  and  a  schooner,  made  for  the  Gulf  of  Finland.  Paul,  in 
one  of  the  freaks  of  his  tyranny,  had  seized  upon  all  the  British 
effects  in  Russia,  and  even  considered  British  subjects  as  his 
prisoners.  **  I  will  have  all  the  English  shipping  and  property 
restored,"  said  Nelson,  **  but  I  will  do  nothing  violently;  neither 
commit  the  affairs  of  my  country,  nor  suffer  Russia  to  mix  the 
affairs  of  Denmark  or  Sweden  with  the  detention  of  our  ships.'' 

The  wind  was  fair,  and  carried  him  in  four  days  to  Revel 
roads.  But  the  bay  had  been  clear  of  firm  ice  on  the  29th  of 
April,    while    the    English    were    lying   idly   at    Kioge.      The 


172  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

Russians  had  cut  through  the  ice  in  the  mole,  six  feet  thick, 
and  their  whole  squadron  had  sailed  for  Cronstadt  on  the  3d. 
Before  that  time  it  had  lain  at  the  mercy  of  the  English. 
''  Nothing,"  Nelson  said,  "  if  it  had  been  right  to  make  the 
attack,  could  have  saved  one  ship  of  them  in  two  hours  after 
our  entering  the  bay." 

It  so  happened  that  there  was  no  cause  to  regret  the  oppor- 
tunity which  had  been  lost,  and  Nelson  immediately  put  the 
intentions  of  Russia  to  the  proof.  He  sent  on  shore  to  say 
that  he  came  with  friendly  views,  and  was  ready  to  return  a 
salute.  On  their  part  the  salute  was  delayed  till  a  message 
was  sent  to  them  to  inquire  for  what  reason ;  and  the  officer 
whose  neglect  had  occasioned  the  delay  was  put  under  arrest. 
Nelson  wrote  to  the  emperor,  proposing  to  wait  on  him  per- 
sonally, and  congratulate  him  on  his  accession,  and  urged  the 
immediate  release  of  British  subjects  and  restoration  of  British 
property. 

The  answer  arrived  on  the  i6th;  Nelson  meantime  had 
exchanged  visits  with  the  governor,  and  the  most  friendly 
intercourse  had  subsisted  between  the  ships  and  the  shore. 
Alexander's  ministers  in  their  reply  expressed  their  surprise  at 
the  arrival  of  a  British  fleet  in  a  Russian  port,  and  their  wish 
that  it  should  return  ;  they  professed,  on  the  part  of  Russia,  the 
most  friendly  disposition  towards  Great  Britain,  but  declined 
the  personal  visit  of  Lord  Nelson,  unless  he  came  in  a  single 
ship.  There  was  a  suspicion  implied  in  this  which  stung 
Nelson,  and  he  said  the  Russian  ministers  would  never  have 
written  thus  if  their  fleet  had  been  at  Revel. 

Hq  wrote  an  immediate  reply  expressing  what  he  felt ;  he 
told  the  Court  of  Petersburg  that  "the  word  of. a  British 
admiral,  when  given  in  explanation  of  any  part  of  his  conduct, 
was  as  sacred  as  that  of  any  sovereign  in  Europe."  And  he 
repeated,  that  "  under  other  circumstances  it  would  have  been 
his   anxious  wish   to   have   paid  his  personal  respects  to  the 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      1 73 

emperor,  and  signed  with  his  own  hand  the  act  of  amity 
between  the  two  countries."  Having  dispatched  this,  he  stood 
out  to  sea  immediately,  leaving  a  brig  to  bring  off  the  provi- 
sions which  had  been  contracted  for,  and  to  settle  the  accounts. 
"  I  hope  all  is  right,"  said  he,  writing  to  our  ambassador  at 
Berlin ;  "  but  seamen  are  but  bad  negotiators,  for  we  put  to 
issue  in  five  minutes  what  diplomatic  forms  would  be  five 
months  doing." 

On  his  way  down  the  Baltic,  however,  he  met  the  Russian 
admiral,  Tchitchagof,  whom  the  emperor,  in  reply  to  Sir  Hyde's 
overtures,  had  sent  to  communicate  personally  with  the  British 
commander-in-chief.  The  reply  was  such  as  had  been  wished 
and  expected,  and  these  negotiators,  going,  seaman-like,  straight 
to  their  object,  satisfied  each  other  of  the  friendly  intentions 
of  their  respective  governments.  Nelson  then  anchored  off 
Rostock,  and  there  he  received  an  answer  to  his  last  dispatch 
from  Revel,  in  which  the  Russian  Court  expressed  their  regret 
that  there  should  have  been  any  misconception  between  them, 
informed  him  that  the  British  vessels  which  Paul  had  detained 
were  ordered  to  be  liberated,  and  invited  him  to  Petersburg  in 
whatever  mode  might  be  most  agreeable  to  himself.  Other 
honors  awaited  him  :  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg-Strelitz,  the 
queen's  brother,  came  to  visit  him  on  board  his  ship ;  and 
towns  of  the  inland  parts  of  Mecklenburg  sent  deputations, 
with  their  public  books  of  record,  that  they  might  have  the 
name  of  Nelson  in  them  written  by  his  own  hand. 

From  Rostock  the  fleet  returned  to  Kioge  Bay.  Nelson  saw 
that  the  temper  of  the  Danes  towards  England  was  such  as 
naturally  arose  from  the  chastisement  which  they  had  so 
recently  received.  "  In  this  nation,"  said  he,  "  we  shall  not  be 
forgiven  for  having  the  upper  hand  of  them ;  I  only  thank  God 
we  have,  or  they  would  try  to  humble  us  to  the  dust." 

Nelson  was  not  deceived  in  his  judgment  of  the  Danish 
Cabinet,  but  the  battle  of  Copenhagen  had  crippled  its  power. 


174  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

The  death  of  the  Czar  Paul  had  broken  the  confederacy,  and 
that  Cabinet,  therefore,  was  compelled  to  defer  till  a  more  con- 
venient season  the  indulgence  of  its  enmity  towards  Great 
Britain.  Soon  afterwards.  Admiral  Sir  Charles  Maurice  Pole 
arrived  to  take  the  command.  The  business,  military  and 
political,  had  by  that  time  been  so  far  completed  that  the 
presence  of  the  British  fleet  soon  became  no  longer  necessary. 
Sir  Charles,  however,  made  the  short  time  of  his  command 
memorable  by  passing  the  Great  Belt  for  the  first  time  with 
line-of-battle  ships,  —  working  through  the  channel  against 
adverse  winds. 

When  Nelson  left  the  fleet,  this  speedy  termination  of  the 
expedition,  though  confidently  expected,  was  not  certain ;  and 
he,  in  his  unwillingness  to  weaken  the  British  force,  thought  at 
one  tinie  of  traversing  Jutland  in  his  boat  by  the  canal  to  Ton- 
ningen,  on  the  Eyder,  and  finding  his  way  home  from  thence. 
This  intention  was  not  executed,  but  he  returned  in  a  brig, 
declining  to  accept  a  frigate,  which  few  admirals  would  have 
done  •,  especially  if,  like  him,  they  suffered  from  sea-sickness  in 
a  small  vessel.  On  his  arrival  at  Yarmouth,  the  first  thing  he 
did  was  to  visit  the  hospital  and  see  the  men  who  had  been 
wounded  in  the  late  battle,  that  victory  which  had  added  new 
glory  to  the  name  of  Nelson,  and  which  was  of  more  impor- 
tance even  than  the  battle  of  the  Nile  to  the  honor,  the 
strength,   and  security  of  England. 

He  had  not  been  many  weeks  on  shore  before  he  was  called 
upon  to  undertake  a  service  for  which  no  Nelson  was  required. 
Bonaparte,  who  was  now  first  consul  and  in  reality  sole  ruler 
of  France,  was  making  preparations  upon  a  great  scale  for 
invading  England,  but  his  schemes  in  the  Baltic  had  been 
baffled ;  fleets  could  not  be  created  as  they  were  wanted  ;  and 
his  armies,  therefore,  were  to  come  over  in  gun-boats  and  such 
small  craft  as  could  be  rapidly  built  or  collected  for  the  occa- 
sion.    From  the  former  governments  of  France  such  threats 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      1 75 

have  only  been  matter  of  insult  or  policy ;  in  Bonaparte  they 
were  sincere,  for  this  adventurer,  intoxicated  with  success, 
already  began  to  imagine  that  all  things  were  to  be  submitted 
to  his  fortune.  We  had  not  at  that  time  proved  the  superiority 
of  our  soldiers  over  the  French,  and  the  unreflecting  multitude 
were  not  to  be  persuaded  that  an  invasion  could  only  be 
effected  by  numerous  and  powerful  fleets.  A  general  alarm 
was  excited,  and  in  condescension  to  this  unworthy  feeling 
Nelson  was  appointed  to  a  command  extending  from  Orford- 
ness  to  Beachy  Head,  on  both  shores ;  a  sort  of  service,  he 
said,  for  which  he  felt  no  other  ability  than  what  might  be 
found  in  his  zeal. 

To  this  service,  however,  such  as  it  was,  he  applied  himself 
with  his  wonted  alacrity ;  and  having  hoisted  his  flag  in  the 
Medusa  frigate,  he  went  to  reconnoitre  Boulogne,  the  point 
from  which  it  was  supposed  the  great  attempt  would  be  made, 
and  which  the  French,  in  fear  of  an  attack  themselves,  were 
fortifying  with  all  care.  He  approached  near  enough  to  sink 
two  of  their  floating  batteries  and  destroy  a  few  gun-boats 
which  were  without  the  pier ;  what  damage  was  done  within 
could  not  be  ascertained.  "  Boulogne,"  he  said,  **  was  certainly 
not  a  very  pleasant  place  that  morning  ;  but,"  he  added,  *'  it  is 
not  my  wish  to  injure  the  poor  inhabitants,  and  the  town  is 
spared  as  much  as  the  nature  of  the  service  will  admit." 
Enough  was  done  to  show  the  enemy  that  they  could  not  with 
impunity  come  outside  their  own  ports.  Nelson  was  satisfied 
by  what  he  saw  that  they  meant  to  make  an  attempt  from  this 
place,  but  that  it  was  impracticable,  for  the  least  wind  at 
W.N.W.  and  they  were  lost.  The  ports  of  Flushing  and 
Flanders  were  better  points ;  there  we  could  not  tell  by  our 
eyes  what  means  of  transport  were  provided.  From  thence, 
therefore,  if  it  came  forth  at  all,  the  expedition  would  come. 
*' And  what  a  forlorn  undertaking !  "  said  he  ;  "consider  cross- 
tides,  etc.     As  for  rowing,  that  is  impossible.     It  is  perfectly 


1/6  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

right  to  be  prepared  for  a  mad  government,  but  with  the  active 
force  which  has  been  given  me  I  may  pronounce  it  almost 
impracticable." 

That  force  had  been  got  together  with  an  alacrity  which  has 
seldom  been  equaled.  On  the  28th  of  July  we  were,  in 
Nelson's  own  words,  literally  at  the  foundation  of  our  fabric  of 
defense ;  and  twelve  days  afterwards  we  were  so  prepared  on 
the  enemy's  coast  that  he  did  not  believe  they  could  get  three 
miles  from  their  ports.  The  Medusa^  returning  to  our  own 
shores,  anchored  in  the  rolling  ground  oif  Harwich  ;  and  when 
Nelson  wished  to  get  to  the  Nore  in  her,  the  wind  rendered  it 
impossible  to  proceed  there  by  the  usual  channel.  In  haste  to 
be  at  the  Nore,  remembering  that  he  had  been  a  tolerable  pilot 
for  the  mouth  of  the  Thames  in  his  younger  days,  and  thinking 
it  necessary  that  he  should  know  all  that  could  be  known  of 
the  navigation,  he  requested  the  maritime  surveyor  of  the 
coast,  Mr.  Spence,  to  get  him  into  the  Swin  by  any  channel, 
for  neither  the  pilots  whom  he  had  on  board,  nor  the  Harwich 
ones,  would  take  charge  of  the  ship.  No  vessel  drawing  more 
than  fourteen  feet  had  ever  before  ventured  over  the  Naze. 
Mr.  Spence,  however,  who  had  surveyed  the  channel,  carried 
her  safely  through.  The  channel  has  since  been  called  Nel- 
son's, though  he  himself  wished  it  to  be  named  after  the 
Medusa;  his  name  needed  no  new  memorial. 

Nelson's  eye  was  upon  Flushing.  '*  To  take  possession  of 
that  place,"  he  said,  **  would  be  a  week's  expedition  for  four  or 
five  thousand  troops."  This,  however,  required  a  consultation 
with  the  Admiralty ;  and  that  something  might  be  done  mean- 
time, he  resolved  upon  attacking  the  flotilla  in  the  mouth  of 
Boulogne  harbor.  This  resolution  was  made  in  deference  to 
the  opinion  of  others,  and  to  the  public  feeling  which  was  so 
preposterously  excited.  He  himself  scrupled  not  to  assert  that 
the  French  army  would  never  embark  at  Boulogne  for  the 
invasion  of  England ;  and  he  owned  that  this  boat  warfare  was 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      I// 

not  congenial  to  his  feelings.  Into  Helvoet  or  Flushing  he 
should  be  happy  to  lead,  if  Government  turned  their  thoughts 
that  way.  **  While  I  serve,"  said  he,  **  I  will  do  it  actively,  and 
to  the  very  best  of  my  abilities.  I  require  nursing  like  a  child," 
he  added  ;  **  my  mind  carries  me  beyond  by  strength,  and  will 
do  me  up.     But  such  is  my  nature." 

The  attack  was  made  by  the  boats  of  the  squadron  in  five 
divisions,  under  Captains  Somerville,  Parker,  Cotgrave,  Jones, 
and  Conn.  The  previous  essay  had  taught  the  French  the 
weak  parts  of  their  position,  and  they  omitted  no  means  of 
strengthening  it,  and  of  guarding  against  the  expected  attempt. 
The  boats  put  off  about  half  an  hour  before  midnight;  but  owing 
to  the  darkness  and  tide  and  half-tide,  which  must  always  make 
night  attacks  so  uncertain  on  the  coasts  of  the  Channel,  the 
divisions  separated.  One  could  not  arrive  at  all ;  another  not 
till  near  daybreak.  The  others  made  their  attack  gallantly ; 
but  the  enemy  were  fully  prepared:  every  vessel  was  defended 
by  long  poles,  headed  with  iron  spikes  projecting  from  their 
sides  ;  strong  nettings  were  braced  up  to  their  lower  yards ; 
they  were  moored  by  the  bottom  to  the  shore ;  they  were 
strongly  manned  with  soldiers  and  protected  by  land  batteries, 
and  the  shore  was  lined  with  troops.  Many  were  taken  posses- 
sion of  ;  and  though  they  could  not  have  been  brought  out, 
they  would  have  been  burned,  had  not  the  French  resorted  to 
a  mode  of  offense  which  they  have  often  used,  but  which  no 
other  people  have  ever  been  wicked  enough  to  employ.  The 
moment  the  firing  ceased  on  board  one  of  their  own  vessels, 
they  fired  upon  it  from  the  shore,  perfectly  regardless  of  their 
own  men. 

The  commander  of  one  of  the  French  divisions  acted  like  a 
generous  enemy.  He  hailed  the  boats  as  they  approached,  and 
cried  out  in  English,  ''  Let  me  advise  you,  my  brave  English- 
men, to  keep  your  distance  —  you  can  do  nothing  here ;  and  it 
is  only  uselessly  shedding  the  blood  of  brave  men  to  make  the 


1/8  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

attempt."  The  French  official  account  boasted  of  the  victory. 
''  The  combat,"  it  said,  "  took  place  in  sight  of  both  countries ; 
it  was  the  first  of  the  kind,  and  the  historian  would  have  cause 
to  make  the  remark."  They  guessed  our  loss  at  four  or  five 
hundred :  it  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  seventy-two.  In  his 
private  letters  to  the  Admiralty,  Nelson  affirmed  that  had  our 
force  arrived  as  he  intended,  it  was  not  all  the  chains  in  France 
which  could  have  prevented  our  men  from  bringing  off  the 
whole  of  the  vessels.  There  had  been  no  error  committed,  and 
never  did  Englishmen  display  more  courage.  Upon  this  point 
Nelson  was  fully  satisfied ;  but  he  said  he  should  never  bring 
himself  again  to  allow  any  attack  wherein  he  was  not  personally 
concerned,  and  that  his  mind  suffered  more  than  if  he  had  had 
a  leg  shot  off  in  the  affair. 

He  grieved  particularly  for  Captain  Parker,  an  excellent 
officer,  to  whom  he  was  greatly  attached,  and  who  had  an  aged 
father  looking  to  him  for  assistance.  His  thigh  was  shattered 
in  the  action,  and  the  wound  proved  mortal  after  some  weeks 
of  suffering  and  manly  resignation.  During  this  interval  Nel- 
son's anxiety  was  very  great.  "  Dear  Parker  is  my  child,"  said 
he,  "for  I  found  him  in  distress."  And  when  he  received  the 
tidings  of  his  death,  he  replied :  "  You  will  judge  of  my  feelings: 
God's  will  be  done.  I  beg  that  his  hair  may  be  cut  off  and 
given  me  ;  it  shall  be  buried  in  my  grave.  Poor  Mr.  Parker ! 
what  a  son  has  he  lost !  If  I  were  to  say  I  was  content,  I 
should  lie ;  but  I  shall  endeavor  to  submit  with  all  the  fortitude 
in  my  power.  His  loss  has  made  a  wound  in  my  heart  which 
time  will  hardly  heal." 

He  now  wished  to  be  relieved  from  this  service.  The  coun- 
try, he  said,  had  attached  a  confidence  to  his  name  which  he 
had  submitted  to,  and  therefore  had  cheerfully  repaired  to  the 
station  ;  but  this  boat  business,  though  it  might  be  part  of  a 
great  plan  of  invasion,  could  never  be  the  only  one,  and  he  did 
not  think  it  was  a  command  for  a  vice-admiral.     It  was  not  that 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      I /Q 

he  wanted  a  more  lucrative  situation,  for,  seriously  indisposed 
as  he  was,  and  low-spirited  from  private  considerations,  he  did 
not  know,  if  the  Mediterranean  were  vacant,  that  he  should  be 
equal  to  undertake  it.  Just  at  this  time  the  Peace  of  Amiens 
was  signed.  Nelson  rejoiced  that  the  experiment  was  made, 
but  was  well  aware  that  it  was  an  experiment :  he  saw  what  he 
called  the  misery  of  peace,  unless  the  utmost  vigilance  and 
prudence  were  exerted ;  and  he  expressed  in  bitter  terms  his 
proper  indignation  at  the  manner  in  which  the  mob  of  London 
welcomed  the  French  general  who  brought  the  ratification, 
saying  that,  *'  they  made  him  ashamed  of  his  country." 

He  had  purchased  a  house  and  estate  at  Merton,  in  Surrey, 
meaning  to  pass  his  days  there  in  the  society  of  Sir  William 
and  Lady  Hamilton.  This  place  he  had  never  seen  till  he  was 
now  welcomed  there  by  the  friends  to  whom  he  had  so 
passionately  devoted  himself,  and  who  were  not  less  sincerely 
attached  to  him.  The  place,  and  everything  which  Lady 
Hamilton  had  done  to  it,  delighted  him ;  and  he  declared  that 
the  longest  liver  should  possess  it  all.  His  pensions  for  his 
victories  and  for  the  loss  of  his  eye  and  arm  amounted,  with 
his  half-pay,  to  about  ;^34oo  a  year.  From  this  he  gave 
^1800  to  Lady  Nelson,  ^200  to  a  brother's  widow,  and  ;^i5o 
for  the  education  of  his  children,  and  he  paid  ^500  interest 
for  borrowed  money ;  so  that  Nelson  was  comparatively  a  poor 
man,  and  even  if  he  had  been  free  from  the  pecuniary  embar- 
rassment which  he  suffered,  his  income  would  not  have  been 
sufficient  for  the  rank  which  he  held,  and  the  claims  which 
would  necessarily  be  made  upon  his  bounty. 

The  depression  of  spirits  under  which  he  had  long  labored 
arose  partly  from  this  state  of  his  circumstances  and  partly 
from  domestic  disquietudes,  which  were  increased  a  few  months 
afterwards  by  the  death  of  his  father,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 

Soon  after  the  conclusion  of  peace,  tidings  arrived  of  our 
final  and  decisive  successes  in  Egypt ;  in  consequence  of  which 


i8o  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

the  Common  Council  voted  their  thanks  to  the  army  and  navy 
for  bringing  the  campaign  to  so  glorious  a  conclusion.  When 
Nelson,  after  the  action  of  Cape  St.  Vincent,  had  been  enter- 
tained at  a  City  feast,  he  had  observed  to  the  Lord  Mayor,  that 
"  if  the  City  continued  its  generosity,  the  navy  would  ruin  them 
in  gifts."  To  which  the  Lord  Mayor  replied,  putting  his  hand 
upon  the  admiral's  shoulder,  **  Do  you  find  victories  and  we 
will  find  rewards." 

The  happiness  which  Nelson  enjoyed  in  the  society  of  his 
chosen  friends  was  of  no  long  continuance.  Sir  William 
Hamilton,  who  was  far  advanced  in  years,  died  early  in  1803. 
He  expired  in  his  wife's  arms,  holding  Nelson  by  the  hand,  and 
almost  in  his  last  words  left  her  to  his  protection ;  requesting 
him  that  he  would  see  justice  done  her  by  the  government,  as 
he  knew  what  she  had  done  for  her  country.  He  left  him  her 
portrait  in  enamel,  calling  him  his  dearest  friend  —  the  most 
virtuous,  loyal,  and  truly  brave  character  he  had  ever  known. 
The  codicil  containing  this  bequest  concluded  with  these  words: 
"  God  bless  him,  and  shame  fall  on  those  who  do  not  say  Amen." 
Sir  William's  pension,  of  ;^i2o  a  year,  ceased  with  his  death. 
Nelson  applied  to  Mr.  Addington,  in  Lady  Hamilton's  behalf, 
stating  the  important  service  which  she  had  rendered  to  the 
fleet  at  Syracuse ;  and  Mr.  Addington,  it  is  said,  acknowledged 
that  she  had  a  just  claim  upon  the  gratitude  of  the  country. 
This  barren  acknowledgment  was  all  that  was  obtained ;  but  a 
sum  equal  to  the  pension  which  her  husband  had  enjoyed  was 
settled  on  her  by  Nelson,  and  paid  in  monthly  payments  during 
his  life.  A  few  weeks  after  this  event  the  war  was  renewed, 
and  the  day  after  his  Majesty's  message  to  Parliament  Nelson 
departed  to  take  the  command  of  the  Mediterranean  fleet.^ 

1  George  Ticknor,  the  eminent  historian,  in  his  "  Life  and  Letters,"  vol.  i. 
p.  63,  cites  a  significant  anecdote  of  Nelson.  It  was  told  to  him  by  Benjamin 
West,  the  famous  painter.  It  seems  that  at  a  banquet  given  to  the  great 
admiral,  West   sat  next  to    him.      In  the  course  of   the  dinner  Nelson 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      l8l 

He  took  his  station  immediately  off  Toulon,  and  there,  with 
incessant  vigilance,  waited  for  the  coming  out  of  the  enemy. 
When  he  had  been  fourteen  months  thus  employed  he  received 
a  vote  of  thanks  from  the  city  of  London  for  his  skill  and  per- 
severance in  blockading  that  port,  so  as  to  prevent  the  French 
from  putting  to  sea.  Nelson  had  not  forgotten  the  wrong 
which  the  city  had  done  to  the  Baltic  fleet  by  their  omission, 
,  and  he  did  not  lose  the  opportunity  which  this  vote  afforded 
of  recurring  to  that  point.  "  I  do  assure  your  lordship,"  said 
he  in  his  answer  to  the  Lord  Mayor,  ^^  that  there  is  not  that  man 
breathing  who  sets  a  higher  value  upon  the  thanks  of  his  fellow- 
citizens  of  London  than  myself;  but  I  should  feel  as  much 
ashamed  to  receive  them  for  a  particular  service,  marked  in  the 
resolution,  if  I  felt  that  I  did  not  come  within  that  line  of  ser- 
vice, as  I  should  feel  hurt  at  having  a  great  victory  passed  over 
without  notice.  I  beg  to  inform  your  lordship  that  the  port  of 
Toulon  has  never  been  blockaded  by  me  —  quite  the  reverse. 
Every  opportunity  has  been  offered  the  enemy  to  put  to  sea, 
for  it  is  there  we  hope  to  realize  the  hopes  and  expectations  of 
our  country." 

Nelson  then  remarked  that  the  junior  flag-officers  of  his  fleet 
had  been  omitted  in  this  vote  of  thanks,  and  his  surprise  at  the 
omission  was  expressed  with  more  asperity,  perhaps,  than  an 

expressed  to  Sir  William  Hamilton  his  regret  that  in  his  youth  he  had  not 
acquired  some  taste  for  art.  "  But,"  said  he,  turning  to  West,  "  there  is  one 
picture  whose  power  I  do  feel.  I  never  pass  a  paint-shop  where  your  '  Death 
of  Wolfe'  is  in  the  window,  without  being  stopped  by  it."  West,  of  course 
acknowledged  the  compliment,  and  Nelson  went  on  to  ask  why  he  had 
painted  no  more  like  it.  "  Because,  my  lord,  there  are  no  more  subjects." 
*'  I  did  n't  think  of  that,"  said  the  admiral,  and  asked  him  to  take  a  glass  of 
champagne.  "  But,  my  lord,  I  fear  your  intrepidity  will  yet  furnish  me  such 
another  scene  ;  and,  if  it  should,  I  shall  certainly  avail  myself  of  it."  "  Will 
you,"  said  Nelson,  touching  his  glass  violently  against  West's,  —  "will  you, 
Mr.  West  ?  Then  I  hope  I  shall  die  in  the  next  battle."  He  sailed  a  few 
days  after,  and  the  result  was  the  magnificent  painting  by  the  world's  great 
painter  of  historic  events. 


1 82  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

offense  so  entirely  and  manifestly  unintentional  deserved ;  but 
it  arose  from  that  generous  regard  for  the  feelings  as  well  as 
interests  of  all  who  were  under  his  command,  which  made  him 
as  much  beloved  in  the  fleets  of  Britain  as  he  was  dreaded  in 
those  of  the  enemy. 

Never  was  any  commander  more  beloved.  He  governed 
men  by  their  reason  and  their  affections  :  they  knew  that  he 
was  incapable  of  caprice  or  tyranny,  and  they  obeyed  him  with 
alacrity  and  joy,  because  he  possessed  their  confidence  as  well 
as  their  love.  ''  Our  Nel,"  they  used  to  say,  "  is  as  brave  as  a 
lion  and  as  gentle  as  a  lamb."  Severe  discipline  he  detested, 
though  he  had  been  bred  in  a  severe  school;  he  never  inflicted 
corporal  punishment  if  it  were  possible  to  avoid  it,  and  when 
compelled  to  enforce  it  he  who  was  familiar  with  wounds  and 
death  suffered  like  a  woman.  In  his  whole  life  Nelson  was 
never  known  to  act  unkindly  towards  an  officer.  If  he  was 
asked  to  prosecute  one  for  ill-behavior,  he  used  to  answer  that 
"  there  was  no  occasion  for  him  to  ruin  a  poor  wretch  who  was 
sufficiently  his  own  enemy  to  ruin  himself."  But  in  Nelson 
there  was  more  than  the  easiness  and  humanity  of  a  happy 
nature ;  he  did  not  merely  abstain  from  injury  ;  his  was  an 
active  and  watchful  benevolence,  ever  desirous  not  only  to 
render  justice,  but  to  do  good.  During  the  peace  he  had 
spoken  in  Parliament  upon  the  abuses  respecting  prize-money, 
and  had  submitted  plans  to  Government  for  more  easily 
manning  the  navy,  and  preventing  desertion  from  it,  by 
bettering  the  condition  of  the  seamen.  He  proposed  that 
their  certificates  should  be  registered,  and  that  every  man  who 
had  served  with  a  good  character  five  years  in  war  should  re- 
ceive a  bounty  of  two  guineas  annually  after  that  time,  and 
of  four  guineas  after  eight  years.  "  This,"  he  said,  "  might  at 
first  sight  appear  an  enormous  sum  for  the  State  to  pay,  but 
the  average  life  of  a  seaman  is,  from  hard  service,  finished  at 
forty-five:  he  cannot  therefore  enjoy  the  annuity  many  years, 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      1 83 

and  the  interest  of  the  money  saved  by  their  not  deserting 
would  go  far  to  pay  the  whole  expense." 

To  his  midshipmen  he  ever  showed  the  most  winning  kind- 
ness, encouraging  the  diffident,  tempering  the  hasty,  counsel- 
ling and  befriending  both.  *^  Recollect,"  he  used  to  say, 
"  that  you  must  be  a  seaman  to  be  an  officer,  and  also  that 
you  cannot  be  a  good  officer  without  being  a  gentleman."  A 
lieutenant  wrote  to  him  to  say  that  he  was  dissatisfied  with 
his  captain.  Nelson's  answer  was  in  that  spirit  of  perfect 
wisdom  and  perfect  goodness  which  regulated  his  whole  con- 
duct toward  those  who  were  under  his  command.  "  I  have 
just  received  your  letter,  and  I  am  truly  sorry  that  any  differ- 
ence should  arise  between  your  captain,  who  has  the  reputation 
of  being  one  of  the  bright  officers  of  the  service,  and  yourself, 
a  very  young  man  and  a  very  young  officer,  who  must  natu- 
rally have  much  to  learn ;  therefore  the  chance  is  that  you 
are  perfectly  wrong  in  the  disagreement.  However,  as  your 
present  situation  must  be  very  disagreeable,  I  will  certainly 
take  an  early  opportunity  of  removing  you,  provided  your 
conduct  to  your  present  captain  be  such  that  another  may  not 
refuse  to  receive  you."  ^ 

1  Some  interesting  details  of  Nelson's  great  industry,  even  in  apparently 
trifling  matters,  are  given  by  his  chaplain,  the  Rev.  A.  J.  Scott.  It  appears 
that  the  great  admiral  had  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson's  capacity  of  tearing  the 
heart  out  of  a  book.  A  swift  glance  at  a  page  or  two  enabled  him  to 
gather  the  writer's  object.  Day  after  day  he  and  his  chaplain  and  a  secre- 
tary sat  poring  over  the  papers  which  loaded  the  table.  The  cabin  was 
furnished  with  two  black  leather  arm-chairs,  each  with  capacious  pockets, 
and  Scott,  exhausted  by  the  labor  of  translating,  would  sometimes  throw 
into  one  of  these  pockets  some  score  or  so  of  unopened  private  letters 
found  in  captured  ships  ;  but  such  was  Nelson's  restless  solicitude  that  he 
was  uneasy  if  even  a  single  document  was  unexamined.  These  leathern 
chairs,  with  the  help  of  an  ottoman,  when  lashed  together,  formed  a  couch 
on  which  he  would  often  snatch  a  few  winks  of  sleep,  which  supplied  him 
with  as  much  refreshment  as  an  ordinary  mortal  might  obtain  from  a  long 
night's  rest. 


184  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

The  gentleness  and  benignity  of  his  disposition  never  made 
him  forget  what  was  due  to  discipline.  Being  on  one  occasion 
applied  to  to  save  a  young  officer  from  a  court-martial  which  he 
had  provoked  by  his  misconduct,  his  reply  was,  that  "  he  would 
do  everything  in  his  power  to  oblige  so  gallant  and  good  an 
officer  as  Sir  John  Warren,"  in  whose  name  the  intercession 
had  been  made ;  "  but  what,"  he  added,  "  would  he  do  if  he 
were  here  ?  Exactly  what  I  have  done,  and  am  still  willing  to 
do.  The  young  man  must  write  such  a  letter  of  contrition  as 
would  be  an  acknowledgment  of  his  great  fault,  and  with  a 
sincere  promise,  if  his  captain  will  intercede  to  prevent  the 
impending  court-martial,  never  to  so  misbehave  again.  On  his 
captain  inclosing  me  such  a  letter,  with  a  request  to  cancel  the 
order  for  the  trial,  I  might  be  induced  to  do  it ;  but  the  letters 
and  reprimand  will  be  given  in  the  public  order-book  of  the 
fleet  and  read  to  all  the  officers.  The  young  man  has  pushed 
himself  forward  to  notice,  and  he  must  take  the  consequence. 
It  was  upon  the  quarter-deck,  in  the  face  of  the  ship's  com- 
pany, that  he  treated  his  captain  with  contempt ;  and  I  am  in 
duty  bound  to  support  the  authority  and  consequence  of  every 
officer  under  my  command.  A  poor  ignorant  seaman  is  forever 
punished  for  contempt  to  his  superiors." 

A  dispute  occurred  in  the  fleet  while  it  was  off  Toulon, 
which  called  forth  Nelson's  zeal  for  the  rights  and  interests  of 
the  navy.  Some  young  artillery  officers,  serving  on  board  the 
bomb-vessels,  refused  to  let  their  men  perform  any  other  duty 
but  what  related  to  the  mortars.  They  wished  to  have  it 
established  that  their  corps  was  not  subject  to  the  captain's 
authority.  The  same  pretensions  were  made  in  the  Channel 
Fleet  about  the  same  time,  and  the  artillery  rested  their  claims 
to  separate  and  independent  authority  on  board  upon  a  clause 
in  the  act  which  they  interpreted  in  their  favor.  Nelson  took 
up  the  subject  with  all  the  earnestness  which  its  importance 
deserved.    "  There  is  no  real  happiness  in  this  world,"  said  he, 


NELSON    AGAIN    IN    THE    MEDITERRANEAN.  1^5 

writing  to  Earl  St.  Vincent  as  First  Lord.  "  With  all  content 
and  smiles  around  me  up  start  these  artillery  boys  (I  under- 
stand they  are  not  beyond  that  age)  and  set  us  at  defiance, 
speaking  in  the  most  disrespectful  manner  of  the  navy  and  its 
commanders.  I  know  you,  my  dear  lord,  so  well,  that  with 
your  quickness  the  matter  would  have  been  settled,  and  per- 
haps some  of  them  been  broke.  I  am  perhaps  more  patient, 
but,  I  do  assure  you,  not  less  resolved,  if  my  plan  of  concilia- 
tion is  not  attended  to.  You  and  I  are  on  the  eve  of  quitting 
the  theatre  of  our  exploits;  but  we  hold  it  due  to  our  succes- 
sors never,  whilst  we.  have  a  tongue  to  speak  or  a  hand  to  write, 
to  allow  the  navy  to  be  in  the  smallest  degree  injured  in  its 
discipline  by  our  conduct." 

To  Trowbridge  he  wrote  in  the  same  spirit :  "  It  is  the  old 
history,  trying  to  do  away  the  act  of  parliament ;  but  I  trust 
they  will  never  succeed,  for  when  they  do,  farewell  to  our  naval 
superiority.  We  should  be  prettily  commanded!  Let  them 
once  gain  the  step  of  being  independent  of  the  navy  on  board 
a  ship,  and  they  will  soon  have  the  other  and  command  us. 
But,  thank  God,  my  dear  Trowbridge,  the  King  himself  cannot 
do  away  the  act  of  parliament.  Although  my  career  is  nearly 
run,  yet  it  would  embitter  my  future  days  and  expiring  moments 
to  hear  of  our  navy  being  sacrificed  to  the  army."  As  the  surest 
way  of  preventing  such  disputes,  he  suggested  that  the  navy 
should  have  its  own  corps  of  artillery;  and  a  corps  of  marine 
artillery  was  accordingly  established. 

Instead  of  lessening  the  power  of  the  commander.  Nelson 
would  have  wished  to  see  it  increased.  It  was  absolutely 
necessary,  he  thought,  that  merit  should  be  rewarded  at  the 
moment,  and  that  the  officers  of  the  fleet  should  look  up  to  the 
commander-in-chief  for  their  reward.  He  himself  was  never 
more  happy  than  when  he  could  promote  those  who  were 
deserving  of  promotion.  Many  were  the  services  which  he 
thus  rendered  unsolicited,  and  frequently  the  officer  in  whose 


1 86  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

behalf  he  had  interested  himself  with  the  Admiralty  did  not 
know  to  whose  friendly  interference  he  was  indebted  for  his 
good  fortune.  He  used  to  say,  '*  I  wish  it  to  appear  as  a  God- 
send." The  love  which  he  bore  the  navy  made  him  promote 
the  interests  and  honor  the  memory  of  all  who  had  added  to 
its  glories.  "  The  near  relations  of  brother  officers,"  he  said, 
"  he  considered  as  legacies  to  the  service."  Upon  mention  being 
made  to  him  of  a  son  of  Rodney  by  the  Duke  of  Clarence,  his 
reply  was:  ''I  agree  with  your  Royal  Highness  most  entirely, 
that  the  son  of  a  Rodney  ought  to  be  the  protege  of  every 
person  in  the  kingdom,  and  particularly  of  the  sea  officers. 
Had  I  known  that  there  had  been  this  claimant,  some  of  my 
own  lieutenants  must  have  given  way  to  such  a  name,  and  he 
should  have  been  placed  in  the  Victory ;  she  is  full,  and  I  have 
twenty  on  my  list,  but  whatever  numbers  I  have,  the  name  of 
Rodney  must  cut  many  of  them  out." 

Such  was  the  proper  sense  which  Nelson  felt  of  what  was 
due  to  splendid  services  and  illustrious  names.  His  feelings 
toward  the  brave  men  who  had  served  with  him  are  shown  by 
a  note  in  his  diary,  which  was  probably  not  intended  for  any 
other  eye  than  his  own:  —  "Nov.  7.  I  had  the  comfort  of 
making  an  old  "" Agamemnon ^^  George  Jones,  a  gunner  into  the 
Chameleon  brig." 

When  Nelson  took  the  command  it  was  expected  that  the 
Mediterranean  would  be  an  active  scene.  Nelson  well  under- 
stood the  character  of  the  perfidious  Corsican  who  was  now 
sole  tyrant  of  France,  and  knowing  that  he  was  as  ready  to 
attack  his  friends  as  his  enemies,  knew  therefore  that  nothing 
could  be  more  uncertain  than  the  direction  of  the  fleet  from 
Toulon,  whenever  it  should  put  to  sea.  "  It  had  as  many 
destinations,"  he  said,  "  as  there  were  countries."  The  momen- 
tous revolutions  of  the  last  ten  years  had  given  him  ample 
matter  for  reflection  as  well  as  opportunities  for  observation. 
The  film  was  cleared  from  his  eyes,  and  now,  when  the  French 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      1 8/ 

no  longer  went  abroad  with  the  cry  of  liberty  and  equality, 
he  saw  that  the  oppression  and  misrule  of  the  powers  which 
had  been  opposed  to  them  had  been  the  main  causes  of  their 
success,  and  that  those  causes  would  still  prepare  the  way 
before  them.  Even  in  Sicily,  where,  if  it  had  been  possible 
longer  to  blind  himself.  Nelson  would  willingly  have  seen  no 
evil,  he  perceived  that  the  people  wished  for  a  change,  and 
acknowledged  that  they  had  reason  to  wish  for  it.  In  Sardinia 
the  same  burden  of  misgovernment  was  felt,  and  the  people, 
like  the  Sicilians,  were  impoverished  by  a  government  so 
utterly  incompetent  to  perform  its  first  and  most  essential 
duties,  that  it  did  not  protect  its  own  coasts  from  the  Barbary 
pirates.  He  would  fain  have  had  us  purchase  this  island  (the 
finest  in  the  Mediterranean)  from  its  sovereign,  who  did  not 
receive  ^5000  a  year  from  it  after  its  wretched  establishment 
was  paid. 

There  was  reason  to  think  that  France  was  preparing  to 
possess  herself  of  this  important  point,  which  afforded  our 
fleet  facilities  for  watching  Toulon  not  to  be  obtained  else- 
where. An  expedition  was  preparing  at  Corsica  for  the 
purpose,  and  all  the  Sardes  who  had  taken  part  with  revolu- 
tionary France  were  ordered  to  assemble  there.  It  was  certain 
that  if  the  attack  were  made  it  would  succeed.  Nelson 
thought  that  the  only  means  to  prevent  Sardinia  from  be- 
coming French  was  to  make  it  English,  and  that  half  a  mil- 
lion would  give  the  king  a  rich  price  and  England  a  cheap 
purchase. 

The  proposed  attack  was  postponed.  Views  of  wider  am- 
bition were  opening  upon  Bonaparte,  who  now  almost  undis- 
guisedly  aspired  to  make  himself  master  of  the  continent  of 
Europe,  and  Austria  was  preparing  for  another  struggle,  to  be 
conducted  as  weakly  and  terminated  as  miserably  as  the 
former.  Spain,  too,  was  once  more  to  be  involved  in  war  by 
the  policy  of  France;    that   perfidious  government  having  in 


1 88  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

view  the  double  object  of  employing  the  Spanish  resources 
against  England,  and  exhausting  them  in  order  to  render  Spain 
herself  finally  its  prey.  Nelson,  who  knew  that  England  and 
the  Peninsula  ought  to  be  in  alliance,  for  the  common  interest 
of  both,  frequently  expressed  his  hopes  that  Spain  might 
resume  her  national  rank  among  the  nations.  "We  ought," 
he  said,  "  by  mutual  consent,  to  be  the  very  best  friends,  and 
both  to  be  ever  hostile  to  France."  But  he  saw  that  Bona- 
parte was  meditating  the  destruction  of  Spain,  and  that,  while 
the  wretched  court  of  Madrid  professed  to  remain  neutral,  the 
appearances  of  neutrality  were  scarcely  preserved. 

An  order  of  the  year  177 1,  excluding  British  ships  of  war 
from  the  Spanish  ports,  was  revived  and  put  in  force,  while 
French  privateers  from  these  very  ports  annoyed  the  British 
trade,  carried  their  prizes  in,  and  sold  them  even  at  Barcelona. 
Nelson  complained  of  this  to  the  captain-general  of  Catalonia, 
informing  him  that  he  claimed  for  every  British  ship  or  squad- 
ron the  right  of  lying  as  long  as  it  pleased  in  the  ports  of 
Spain  while  that  was  allowed  to  other  powers.  To  the  British 
ambassador  he  said,  "  I  am  ready  to  make  large  allowances  for 
the  miserable  situation  Spain  has  placed  herself  in,  but  there 
is  a  certain  line  beyond  which  I  cannot  submit  to  be  treated 
with  disrespect.  We  have  given  up  French  vessels  taken  within 
gunshot  of  the  Spanish  shore,  and  yet  French  vessels  are  per- 
mitted to  attack  our  ships  from  the  Spanish  shore.  Your 
Excellency  may  assure  the  Spanish  government  that  in  what- 
ever place  the  Spaniards  allow  the  French  to  attack  us,  in  that 
place  I  shall  order  the  French  to  be  attacked." 

During  this  state  of  things,  to  which  the  weakness  of  Spain, 
and  not  her  will,  consented,  the  enemy's  fleet  did  not  venture 
to  put  to  sea.  Nelson  watched  it  with  unremitting  and  almost 
unexampled  perseverance.  The  station  off  Toulon  he  called 
his  home.  "We  are  in  the  right  fighting  trim,"  said  he  ;  "  let 
them  come  as  soon  as  they  please,     I  never  saw  a  fleet  alto- 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      l8g 

gether  so  well  officered  and  manned :  would  to  God  the  ships 
were  half  so  good !  The  finest  ones  in  the  service  would  soon 
be  destroyed  by  such  terrible  weather.  I  know  well  enough 
that  if  I  were  to  go  into  Malta  I  should  save  the  ships  during 
this  bad  season;  but  if  I  am  to  watch  the  French  I  must  be  at 
sea,  and  if  at  sea,  must  have  bad  weather;  and  if  the  ships  are 
not  fit  to  stand  bad  weather  they  are  useless." 

Then  only  he  was  satisfied  and  at  ease  when  he  had  the 
enemy  in  view.  Mr.  Elliot,  our  minister  at  Naples,  seems  at 
this  time  to  have  proposed  to  send  a  confidential  Frenchman  to 
him  with  information.  "  I  should  be  very  happy,"  he  replied, 
''to  receive  authentic  intelligence  of  the  destination  of  the 
French  squadron,  their  route,  and  time  of  sailing.  Anything 
short  of  this  is  useless,  and  L  assure  your  Excellency  that  I 
would  not  upon  any  consideration  have  a  Frenchman  in  the 
fleet  except  as  a  prisoner.  I  put  no  confidence  in  them.  You 
think  yours  good ;  the  queen  thinks  the  same ;  I  believe  they 
are  all  alike.  Whatever  information  you  can  get  me  I  shall  be 
very  thankful  for ;  but  not  a  Frenchman  comes  here.  Forgive 
me,  but  my  mother  hated  the  French !  " 

M.  Latouche  Treville,  who  had  commanded  at  Boulogne, 
commanded  now  at  Toulon.  "  He  was  sent  for  on  purpose," 
said  Nelson, "  as  he  beat  me  at  Boulogne,  to  beat  me  again  ;  but 
he  seems  very  loath  to  try."  One  day,  while  the  main  body  of 
our  fleet  was  out  of  sight  of  land.  Rear-admiral  Campbell 
reconnoitring  with  the  Canopas,  Donegal^  and  Amazon^  stood  in 
close  to  the  port,  and  M.  Latouche,  taking  advantage  of  a 
breeze  which  sprung  up,  pushed  out  with  four  ships  of  the  line 
and  three  heavy  frigates,  and  chased  him  about  four  leagues. 
The  Frenchman,  delighted  at  having  found  himself  in  so  novel 
a  situation,  published  a  boastful  account,  affirming  that  he  had 
given  chase  to  the  whole  British  fleet,  and  that  Nelson  had 
fled  before  him.  Nelson  thought  it  due  to  the  Admiralty  to 
send  home  a  copy  of  the  Victory's  log  upon  this  occasion.    "As 


igO  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

for  himself,"  he  said,  "  if  his  character  was  not  established  by 
that  time  for  not  being  apt  to  run  away,  it  was  not  worth  his 
while  to  put  the  world  right."  "  If  this  fleet  gets  fairly  up 
with  M.  Latouche,"  said  he  to  one  of  his  correspondents,  "  his 
letter,  with  all  his  ingenuity,  must  be  different  from  his  last. 
We  had  fancied  that  we  chased  him  into  Toulon,  for,  blind  as 
I  am,  I  could  see  his  water-line  when  he  clued  his  topsails  up, 
shutting  in  Sepet.  But  from  the  time  of  his  meeting  Captain 
Hawker  in  the  Isis  I  never  heard  of  his  acting  otherwise  than 
as  a  poltroon  and  a  liar.  Contempt  is  the  best  mode  of  treat- 
ing such  a  miscreant."  In  spite,  however,  of  contempt,  the 
impudence  of  this  Frenchman  half  angered  him.  He  said  to 
his  brother,  "  You  will  have  seen  Latouche's  letter ;  how  he 
chased  me,  and  how  I  ran.  I  keep  it,  and  if  I  take  him,  he 
shall  eat  it !  " 

Nelson,  who  used  to  say  that  in  sea  affairs  nothing  is  impos- 
sible and  nothing  improbable,  feared  the  more  that  this 
Frenchman  might  get  out  and  elude  his  vigilance  because  he 
was  so  especially  desirous  of  catching  him,  and  administering 
to  him  his  own  lying  letter  in  a  sandwich.  M.  Latouche, 
however,  escaped  him  in  another  way.  He  died,  according  to 
the  French  papers,  in  consequence  of  walking  so  often  up  to 
the  signal-post  upon  Sepet  to  watch  the  British  fleet.  **  I 
always  pronounced  that  would  be  his  death,"  said  Nelson. 
"  If  he  had  come  out  and  fought  me,  it  would  at  least  have 
added  ten  years  to  my  life."  The  patience  with  which  he  had 
watched  Toulon  he  spoke  of  truly  as  a  perseverance  at  sea 
which  had  never  been  surpassed.  From  May,  1803,  to  August, 
1805,  he  himself  went  out  of  his  ship  but  three  times;  each  of 
those  times  was  upon  the  King's  service,  and  neither  time  of 
absence  exceeded  an  hour.  The  weather  had  been  so  unusually 
severe  that  he  said  the  Mediterranean  seemed  altered.  It  was 
his  rule  never  to  contend  with  the  gales,  but  either  run  to  the 
southward  to  escape  their  violence,  or  furl  all  the  sails  and 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      I9I 

make  the  ships  as  easy  as  possible.  The  men,  though  he  said 
flesh  and  blood  could  hardly  stand  it,  continued  in  excellent 
health,  which  he  ascribed  in  great  measure  to  a  plentiful  supply 
of  lemons  and  onions.  For  himself  he  thought  he  could  only 
last  till  the  battle  was  over. 

One  battle  more  it  was  his  hope  that  he  might  fight.  *'  How- 
ever," said  he,  "  whatever  happens  I  have  run  a  glorious  race." 
He  was  afraid  of  blindness,  and  this  was  the  only  evil  which  he 
could  not  contemplate  without  unhappiness.  More  alarming 
symptoms  he  regarded  with  less  apprehension,  describing  his 
own  *'  shattered  carcass  "  as  in  the  worst  plight  of  any  in  the 
fleet,  and  he  says :  "  I  have  felt  the  blood  gushing  up  the  left 
side  of  my  head,  and  the  moment  it  covers  the  brain  I  am  fast 
asleep."  The  fleet  was  in  worse  trim  than  the  men,  but  when 
he  compared*  it  with  the  enemy's,  it  was  with  a  right  English 
feeling.  "  The  French  fleet  yesterday,"  said  he  in  one  of  his 
letters, "  was  to  appearance  in  high  feather,  and  as  fine  as  paint 
could  make  them  ;  but  when  they  may  sail,  or  where  they  may 
go,  I  am  very  sorry  to  say  is  a  secret  I  am  not  acquainted  with. 
Our  weather-beaten  ships,  I  have  no  fear,  will  make  their  sides 
like  a  plum  pudding." 

Hostilities  at  length  commenced  between  Great  Britain  and 
Spain.  That  country,  whose  miserable  government  made  her 
subservient  to  France,  was  once  more  destined  to  lavish  her 
resources  and  her  blood  in  furtherance  of  the  designs  of  a 
perfidious  ally.  The  immediate  occasion  of  the  war  was  the 
seizure  of  four  treasure-ships  by  the  English.  The  act  was 
perfectly  justifiable,  for  those  treasures  were  intended  to  fur- 
nish means  for  France ;  but  the  circumstances  which  attended 
it  were  as  unhappy  as  they  were  unforeseen.  Four  frigates  had 
been  dispatched  to  intercept  them.  They  met  with  an  equal 
force.  Resistance  therefore  became  a  point  of  honor  on  the 
part  of  the  Spaniards,  and  one  of  their  ships  soon  blew  up  with 
all  on  board.     Had  a  stronger  squadron  been  sent  this  deplor- 


192  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

able  catastrophe  might  have  been  spared  —  a  catastrophe  which 
excited  not  more  indignation  in  Spain  than  it  did  grief  in  those 
who  were  its  unwilling  instruments,  in  the  English  government 
and  in  the  English  people.  On  the  5th  of  October  this  unhappy 
affair  occurred,  and  Nelson  was  not  apprised  of  it  till  the  12  th 
of  the  ensuing  month. 

He  had  indeed  sufficient  mortification  at  the  breaking  oyt  of 
the  Spanish  war,  an  event  which  it  might  reasonably  have  been 
supposed  would  amply  enrich  the  officers  of  the  Mediterranean 
fleet,  and  repay  them  for  the  severe  and  unremitting  duty  on 
which  they  had  been  so  long  employed.  But  of  this  harvest 
they  were  deprived,  for  Sir  John  Orde  was  sent  with  a  small 
squadron  and  a  separate  command  to  Cadiz.  Nelson's  feelings 
were  never  wounded  so  deeply  as  now.  "  I  had  thought,"  said 
he,  writing  in  the  first  flow  and  freshness  of  indignation :  "  I 
fancied  —  but  nay,  it  must  have  been  a  dream,  an  idle  dream 
—  yet,  I  confess  it,  I  did  fancy  that  I  had  done  my  country  ser- 
vice, and  thus  they  use  me !  And  under  what  circumstances 
and  with  what  pointed  aggravation  !  Yet  if  I  know  my  own 
thoughts,  it  is  not  for  myself,  or  on  my  own  account  chiefly, 
that  I  feel  the  sting  and  the  disappointment.  No !  it  is  for  my 
brave  officers,  for  my  noble-minded  friends  and  comrades.  Such 
a  gallant  set  of  fellows  !  Such  a  band  of  brothers  1  My  heart 
swells  at  the  thought  of  them !  " 

War  between  Spain  and  England  was  now  declared,  and  on 
the  1 8th  of  January  the  Toulon  fleet,  having  the  Spaniards  to 
cooperate  with  them,  put  to  sea.  Nelson  was  at  anchor  off  the 
coast  of  Sardinia,  where  the  Madelena  Islands  form  one  of  the 
finest  harbors  in  the  world,  when  at  three  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  19th  the  Active  and  Seahorse  frigates  brought  this  long- 
hoped-for  intelligence.  They  had  been  close  to  the  enemy  at 
ten  on  the  preceding  night,  but  lost  sight  of  them  in  about  four 
hours.  The  fleet  immediately  unmoored  and  weighed,  and  at 
six  in  the  evening  ran  through  the  straits  between  Biche  and 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      1 93 

Sardinia,  a  passage  so  narrow  that  the  ships  could  only  pass 
one  at  a  time,  each  following  the  stern  lights  of  its  leader. 
From  the  position  of  the  enemy  when  they  were  last  seen  it 
was  inferred  that  they  must  be  bound  round  the  southern  end 
of  Sardinia.  Signal  was  made  the  next  morning  to  prepare 
for  battle.  Bad  weather  came  on,  baffling  the  one  fleet  in  its 
object  and  the  other  in  its  pursuit.  Nelson  beat  about  the 
Sicilian  seas  for  ten  days  without  obtaining  any  other  infor- 
mation of  the  enemy  than  that  one  of  their  ships  had  put  into 
Ajaccio  dismasted,  and  having  seen  that  Sardinia,  Naples,  and 
Sicily  were  safe,  believing  Egypt  to  be  their  destination,  for 
Egypt  he  ran. 

The  disappointment  and  distress  which  he  had  experienced 
in  his  former  pursuits  of  the  French  through  the  same  seas 
were  now  renewed,  but  Nelson,  while  he  endured  these  anxious 
and  unhappy  feelings,  was  still  consoled  by  the  same  confidence 
as  on  the  former  occasion,  that  though  his  judgment  might  be 
erroneous,  under  all  circumstances  he  was  right  in  having 
formed  it.  *^  I  have  consulted  no  man,"  said  he  to  the 
Admiralty,  "  therefore  the  whole  blame  of  ignorance  in  form- 
ing my  judgment  must  rest  with  me.  I  would  allow  no  man  to 
take  from  me  an  atom  of  my  glory  had  I  fallen  in  with  the 
French  fleet,  nor  do  I  desire  aily  man  to  partake  any  of  the 
responsibility.  All  is  mine,  right  or  wrong."  Then  stating 
the  grounds  upon  which  he  had  proceeded,  he  added  :  *'  At  this 
moment  of  sorrow  I  still  feel  that  I  have  acted  right."  In  the 
same  spirit  he  said  to  Sir  Alexander  Ball :  "  When  I  call  to 
remembrance  all  the  circumstances,  I  approve,  if  nobody  else 
does,  of  my  own  conduct." 

Baffled  thus,  he  bore  up  for  Malta,  and  met  intelligence  from 
Naples  that  the  French,  having  been  dispersed  in  a  gale,  had 
put  back  to  Toulon.  From  the  same  quarter  he  learned  that  a 
great  number  of  saddles  and  muskets  had  been  embarked ;  and 
this  confirmed  him  in  his  opinion  that  Egypt  was  their  destina- 


194  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

tion.  That  they  should  have  put  back  in  consequence  of 
storms  which  he  had  weathered,  gave  him  a  consoHng  sense  of 
British  superiority.  *' These  gentlemen/'  said  he,  "are  not 
accustomed  to  a  Gulf  of  Lyons  gale ;  we  have  buffeted  them 
for  one  and  twenty  months,  and  not  carried  away  a  spar." 
He,  however,  who  had  so  often  braved  these  gales  was  now, 
though  not  mastered  by  them,  vexatiously  thwarted  and 
impeded ;  and  on  February  27  th  he  was  compelled  to  anchor  in 
Pulla  Bay,  in  the  Gulf  of  Cagliari.  From  the  21st  of  January 
the  fleet  had  remained  ready  for  battle,  without  a  bulkhead  up 
night  or  day.  He  anchored  here  that  he  might  not  be  driven 
to  leeward.  As  soon  as  the  weather  moderated  he  put  to  sea 
again ;  and  after  again  beating  about  against  contrary  winds, 
another  gale  drove  him  to  anchor  in  the  Gulf  of  Palma  on  the 
8th  of  March.  This  he  made  his  rendezvous ;  he  knew  that 
the  French  troops  still  remained  embarked,  and  wishing  to 
lead  them  into  a  belief  that  he  was  stationed  upon  the 
Spanish  coast,  he  made  his  appearance  off  Barcelona  with 
that  intent. 

About  the  end  of  the  month  he  began  to  fear  that  the  plan 
of  the  expedition  was  abandoned,  and  sailing  once  more 
towards  his  old  station  off  Toulon,  on  the  4th  of  April  he  met 
the  Phcebe^  with  news  that  Villeneuve  had  put  to  sea  on  the  last 
of  March  with  eleven  ships  of  the  line,  seven  frigates,  and  two 
brigs.  When  last  seen  they  were  steering  towards  the  coast  of 
Africa.  Nelson  first  covered  the  channel  between  Sardinia  and 
Barbary,  so  as  to  satisfy  himself  that  Villeneuve  was  not  taking 
the  same  route  for  Egypt  which  Gantheaume  had  taken  before 
him,  when  he  attempted  to  carry  reinforcements  there.  Certain 
of  this,  he  bore  up  on  the  7th  for  Palermo,  lest  the  French 
should  pass  to  the  north  of  Corsica,  and  he  dispatched  cruisers 
in  all  directions.  On  the  nth  he  felt  assured  that  they  were  not 
going  down  the  Mediterranean,  and  sending  off  frigates  to  Gib- 
raltar, to  Lisbon,  and  to  Admiral  Cornwallis,  who  commanded 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      1 95 

the  squadron  off  Brest,  he  endeavored  to  get  to  the  westward, 
beating  against  westerly  winds.  After  five  days  a  neutral  gave 
intelligence  that  the  French  had  been  seen  off  Cape  de  Gatte 
on  the  7th.  It  was  soon  afterwards  ascertained  that  they  had 
passed  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  on  the  day  following ;  and  Nel- 
son, knowing  that  they  might  already  be  half-way  to  Ireland  or 
to  Jamaica,  exclaimed  that  he  was  miserable.  One  gleam  of 
comfort  only  came  across  him  in  the  reflection  that  his  vigilance 
had  rendered  it  impossible  for  them  to  undertake  any  expedi- 
tion in  the  Mediterranean. 

Eight  days  after  this  certain  intelligence  had  been  obtained 
he  described  his  state  of  mind  thus  forcibly  in  writing  to  the 
governor  of  Malta :  "  My  good  fortune,  my  dear  Ball,  seems 
flown  away.  I  cannot  get  a  fair  wind,  or  even  a  side  wind. 
Dead  foul !  Dead  foul !  But  my  soul  is  fully  made  up  what 
to  do  when  I  leave  the  Straits,  supposing  there  is  no  certain 
account  of  the  enemy's  destination.  I  believe  this  ill-luck  will 
go  near  to  kill  me ;  but  as  these  are  times  of  exertion,  I  must 
not  be  cast  down,  whatever  I  may  feel."  In  spite  of  every 
exertion  which  could  be  made  by  all  the  zeal  and  all  the  skill 
of  British  seamen,  he  did  not  get  in  sight  of  Gibraltar  till  the 
30th  of  April,  and  the  wind  was  then  so  adverse  that  it  was 
impossible  to  pass  the  Gut.  He  anchored  in  Mazari  Bay,  on 
the  Barbary  shore  ;  obtained  supplies  from  Tetuan  ;  and  when 
on  the  5  th  a  breeze  from  the  eastward  sprang  up  at  last,  sailed 
once  more,  hoping  to  hear  of  the  enemy  from  Sir  John  Orde, 
who  commanded  off  Cadiz,  or  from  Lisbon.  ''  If  nothing  is 
heard  of  them,"  said  he  to  the  Admiralty,  "  I  shall  probably 
think  the  rumors  which  have  been  spread  are  true,  that  their 
object  is  the  West  Indies,  and  in  that  case  I  think  it  my  duty 
to  follow  them ;  or  to  the  Antipodes,  should  I  believe  that  to 
be  their  destination."  At  the  time  when  this  resolution  was 
taken  the  physician  of  the  fleet  had  ordered  him  to  return  to 
England  before  the  hot  months. 


196  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

Nelson  had  formed  his  judgment  of  their  destination,  and 
made  up  his  mind  accordingly,  when  Donald  Campbell,  at  that 
time  an  admiral  in  the  Portuguese  service,  the  same  person  who 
had  given  important  tidings  to  Earl  St.  Vincent  of  the  move- 
ments of  that  fleet  from  which  he  won  his  title,  a  second  time 
gave  timely  and  momentous  intelligence  to  the  flag  of  his 
country.  He  went  on  board  the  Victory,  and  communicated  to 
Nelson  his  certain  knowledge  that  the  combined  Spanish  and 
French  fleets  were  bound  for  the  West  Indies.  Hitherto  all 
things  had  favored  the  enemy.  While  the  British  commander 
was  beating  up  against  strong  southerly  and  westerly  gales, 
they  had  wind  to  their  wish  from  the  N.E.,  and  had  done 
in  nine  days  what  he  was  a  whole  month  in  accomplishing. 
Villeneuve,  finding  the  Spaniards  at  Carthagena  were  not  in  a 
state  of  equipment  to  join  him,  dared  not  wait,  but  hastened 
on  to  Cadiz.  Sir  John  Orde  necessarily  retired  at  his  approach. 
Admiral  Gravina,  with  six  Spanish  ships  of  the  line  and  two 
French,  came  out  to  him,  and  they  sailed  without  a  moment's 
loss  of  time.  They  had  about  three  thousand  French  troops 
on  board  and  fifteen  hundred  Spanish  ;  six  hundred  were  under 
orders  expecting  them  at  Martinique,  and  one  thousand  at 
Guadaloupe.  General  Lauriston  commanded  the  troops.  The 
combined  fleet  now  consisted  of  eighteen  sail  of  the  line,  six 
forty-four  gun  frigates,  one  of  twenty-six  guns,  three  corvettes, 
and  a  brig.  They  were  joined  afterwards  by  two  new  French 
line-of-battle  ships  and  one  forty-four.  Nelson  pursued  them 
with  ten  sail  of  the  line  and  three  frigates.  "Take  you  a 
Frenchman  apiece,"  said  h*e  to  his  captains,  "  and  leave  me  the 
Spaniards ;  when  I  haul  down  my  colors  I  expect  you  to  do 
the  same,  and  not  till  then." 

The  enemy  had  five  and  thirty  days'  start,  but  he  calculated 
that  he  should  gain  eight  or  ten  days  upon  them  by  his  exer- 
tions. May  15th  he  made  Madeira,  and  on  June  4th  reached 
Barbadoes,  whither   he  had  sent  dispatches  before  him,  and 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      1 9/ 

where  he  found  Admiral  Cochrane,  with  two  ships,  part  of  our 
squadron  in  those  seas  being  at  Jamaica.  He  found  here  also 
accounts  that  the  combined  fleets  had  been  seen  from  St.  Lucia 
on  the  28th,  standing  to  the  southward,  and  that  Tobago  and 
Trinidad  were  their  objects.  This  Nelson  doubted,  but  he  was 
alone  in  his  opinion,  and  yielded  it  with  these  foreboding  words : 
"  If  your  intelligence  proves  false,  you  lose  me  the  French 
fleet."  Sir  William  Myers  offered  to  embark  here  with  two 
thousand  troops;  they  were  taken  on  board,  and  the  next 
morning  he  sailed  for  Tobago. 

Here  accident  confirmed  the  false  intelligence  which  had, 
whether  from  intention  or  error,  misled  him.  A  merchant  at 
Tobago,  in  the  general  alarm,  not  knowing  whether  this  fleet 
was  friend  or  foe,  sent  out  a  schooner  to  reconnoitre,  and 
acquaint  him  by  signal.  The  signal  which  he  had  chosen  hap- 
pened to  be  the  very  one  which  had  been  appointed  by  Colonel 
Shipley,  of  the  Engineers,  to  signify  that  the  enemy  were  at 
Trinidad;  and  as  this  was  at  the  close  of  the  day  there  was  no 
opportunity  of  discovering  the  mistake.  An  American  brig 
was  met  with  about  the  same  time,  the  master  of  which,  with 
that  propensity  to  deceive  the  English  and  assist  the  French  in 
any  manner  which  has  been  but  too  common  among  his  country- 
men, affirmed  that  he  had  been  boarded  off  Granada  a  few  days 
before  by  the  French,  who  were  standing  towards  the  Bocas  of 
Trinidad.  This  fresh  intelligence  removed  all  doubts.  The 
ships  were  cleared  for  action  before  daylight,  and  Nelson  entered 
the  Bay  of  Paria  on  the  7th,  hoping  and  expecting  to  make  the 
mouths  of  the  Orinoco  as  famous  in  the  annals  of  the  British 
navy  as  those  of  the  Nile.  Not  an  enemy  was  there ;  and  it 
was  discovered  that  accident  and  artifice  had  combined  to  lead 
him  so  far  to  leeward  that  there  could  have  been  little  hope  of 
fetching  to  windward  of  Granada  for  any  other  fleet.  Nelson, 
however,  with  skill  and  exertions  never  exceeded  and  almost 
unexampled,  bore  for  that  island. 


198  *      southey's  life  of  nelson. 

Advices  met  him  on  the  way,  that  the  combined  fleets,  having 
captured  the  Diamond  Rock,  were  then  at  Martinique,  on  the 
4th,  and  were  expected  to  sail  that  night  for  the  attack  of 
Granada.  On  the  9th  Nelson  arrived  off  that  island,  and  there 
learned  that  they  had  passed  to  leeward  of  Antigua  the  preced- 
ing day,  and  taken  a  homeward-bound  convoy.  Had  it  not 
been  for  false  information,  upon  which  Nelson  had  acted  reluc- 
tantly and  in  opposition  to  his  own  judgment,  he  would  have 
been  off  Port  Royal  just  as  they  were  leaving  it,  and  the  battle 
would  have  been  fought  on  the  spot  where  Rodney  defeated 
De  Grasse.  This  he  remembered  in  his  vexation ;  but  he  had 
saved  the  colonies  and  above  two  hundred  ships  laden  for 
Europe,  which  would  else  have  fallen  into  the  enemy's  hands, 
and  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  the  mere  terror  of 
his  name  had  effected  this,  and  had  put  to  flight  the  allied 
enemies,  whose  force  nearly  doubled  that  before  which  they  fled. 
That  they  were  flying  back  to  Europe,  he  believed ;  and  for 
Europe  he  steered  in  pursuit  on  the  13th,  having  disembarked 
the  troops  at  Antigua,  and  taking  with  him  the  Spartiate, 
seventy-four,  the  only  addition  to  the  squadron  with  which  he 
was  pursuing  so  superior  a  force.  Five  days  afterwards,  the 
Amazon  brought  intelligence  that  she  had  spoke  a  schooner 
who  had  seen  them,  on  the  evening  of  the  15th,  steering  to  the 
north,  and  by  computation  eighty-seven  leagues  off.  Nelson's 
diary  at  this  time  denotes  his  great  anxiety  and  his  perpetual 
and  all-observing  vigilance :  *' June  21,  midnight.  Nearly  calm; 
saw  three  planks,  which  I  think  came  from  the  French  fleet. 
Very  miserable,  which  is  very  foolish."  On  the  17th  of  July 
he  came  in  sight  of  Cape  St.  Vincent,  and  steered  for  Gibraltar. 
"  June  1 8th,"  his  diary  says,  "  Cape  Spartel  in  sight,  but  no 
French  fleet,  nor  any  information  about  them.  How  sorrowful 
this  makes  me  !  But  I  cannot  help  myself."  The  next  day  he 
anchored  at  Gibraltar,  and  on  the  20th,  says  he,  *' I  went 
on  shore  for  the  first  time  since  June  i6th,  1803  ;  and  from 
having  my  foot  out  of  the  Victory^  two  years,  wanting  ten  days." 


NELSON  AGAIN  IN  THE  MEDITERRANEAN.      1 99 

Here  he  communicated  with  his  old  friend  Collingwood,  who, 
having  been  detached  with  a  squadron  when  the  disappearance 
of  the  combined  fleets  and  of  Nelson  in  their  pursuit  was 
known  in  England,  had  taken  his  station  off  Cadiz.  He  thought 
that  Ireland  was  the  enemy's  ultimate  object ;  that  they  would 
now  liberate  the  Ferrol  squadron,  which  was  blocked  up  by 
Sir  Robert  Calder,  call  for  the  Rochefort  ships,  and  then  ap- 
pear off  Ushant  with  three  or  four  and  thirty  sail,  there  to  be 
joined  by  the  Brest  fleet.  With  this  great  force  he  supposed 
they  would  make  for  Ireland,  the  real  mark  and  bent  of  all  their 
operations  ;  and  their  flight  to  the  West  Indies,  he  thought, 
had  been  merely  undertaken  to  take  off  Nelson's  force,  which 
was  the  great  impediment  to  their  undertaking. 

Collingwood  was  gifted  with  great  political  penetration.  As 
yet,  however,  all  was  conjecture  concerning  the  enemy,  and 
Nelson  having  victualed  and  watered  at  Tetuan,  stood  for 
Ceuta  on  the  24th,  still  without  information  of  their  course. 
Next  day  intelligence  arrived  that  the  Curieux  brig  had  seen 
them  on  the  19th  standing  to  the  northward.  He  proceeded  off 
Cape  St.  Vincent,  rather  cruising  for  intelligence  than  knowing 
whither  to  betake  himself ;  and  here  a  case  occurred  that,  more 
than  any  other  event  in  real  history,  resembles  those  whimsical 
proofs  of  sagacity  which  Voltaire,  in  his  "Zadig,"  has  borrowed 
from  the  Orientals.  One  of  our  frigates  spoke  an  American, 
who,  a  little  to  the  westward  of  the  Azores,  had  fallen  in  with 
an  armed  vessel,  appearing  to  be  a  dismasted  privateer,  deserted 
by  her  crew,  which  had  been  run  on  board  by  another  ship, 
and  had  been  set  fire  to,  but  the  fire  had  gone  out.  A  log-book 
and  a  few  seamen's  jackets  were  found  in  the  cabin,  and  these 
were  brought  to  Nelson.  The  log-book  closed  with  these  words: 
"Two  large  vessels  in  the  W. N.W."  ;  and  this  led  him  to  con- 
clude that  the  vessel  had  been  an  English  privateer  cruising  off 
the  Western  Islands.  But  there  was  in  this  book  a  scrap  of 
dirty  paper  filled  with  figures.     Nelson,  immediately  upon  see- 


200  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

ing  it,  observed  that  the  figures  were  written  by  a  Frenchman, 
and  after  studying  this  for  awhile,  said :  "  I  can  explain  the 
whole.  The  jackets  are  of  French  manufacture  and  prove 
that  the  privateer  was  in  possession  of  the  enemy.  She  had 
been  chased  and  taken  by  the  two  ships  that  were  seen  in  the 
W.  N.W.  The  prize-master,  going  on  board  in  a  hurry,  forgot 
to  take  with  him  his  reckoning ;  there  is  none  in  the  log-book, 
and  the  dirty  paper  contains  her  work  for  the  number  of  days 
since  the  privateer  last  left  Corvo,  with  an  unaccounted-for 
run,  which  I  take  to  have  been  the  chase,  in  his  endeavor 
to  find  out  her  situation  by  back-reckonings.  By  some  mis- 
management, I  conclude,  she  was  run  on  board  by  one  of  the 
enemy's  ships,  and  dismasted.  Not  liking  delay  (for  I  am 
satisfied  that  these  two  ships  were  the  advanced  ones  of  the 
French  squadron),  and  fancying  we  were  close  at  their  heels, 
they  set  fire  to  the  vessel,  and  abandoned  her  in  a  hurry.  If 
this  explanation  be  correct,  I  infer  from  it  that  they  are  gone 
more  to  the  northward,  and  more  to  the  northward  I  will  look 
for  them.'' 

This  course  accordingly  he  held,  but  still  without  success. 
Still  persevering  and  still  disappointed,  he  returned  near 
enough  to  Cadiz  to  ascertain  that  they  were  not  there,  traversed 
the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and  then,  as  a  last  hope,  stood  over  for  the 
northwest  coast  of  Ireland,  against  adverse  winds,  till  on  the 
evening  of  the  12th  of  August  he  learned  that  they  had  not 
been  heard  of  there.  Frustrated  thus  in  all  his  hopes,  after  a 
pursuit  to  which,  for  its  extent,  rapidity,  and  perseverance,  no 
parallel  can  be  produced,  he  judged  it  best  to  reinforce  the 
Channel  Fleet  with  his  squadron,  lest  the  enemy,  as  Colling- 
wood  apprehended,  should  bear  down  upon  Brest  with  their 
whole  collected  force.  On  the  15th  he  joined  Admiral  Corn- 
wallis  ojff  Ushant.  No  news  had  yet  been  obtained  of  the 
enemy,  and  on  the  same  evening  he  received  orders  to  proceed 
with  the  Victory  and  Superb  to  Portsmouth. 


CHAPTER    IX. 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR. 


AT  Portsmouth  Nelson  at  length  found  news  of  the  com- 
bined fleets.  Sir  Robert  Calder,  who  had  been  sent  out 
to  intercept  their  return,  had  fallen  in  with  them,  on  the  2 2d  of 
July,  sixty  leagues  west  of  Cape  Finisterre.  Their  force  con- 
sisted of  twenty  sail  of  the  line,  three  fifty-gun  ships,  five 
frigates,  and  two  brigs ;  his,  of  fifteen  line-of-battle  ships,  two 
frigates,  a  cutter,  and  a  lugger.  After  an  action  of  four  hours 
he  had  captured  an  eighty-four  and  a  seventy-four,  and  then 
thought  it  necessary  to  bring-to  the  squadron  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  their  prizes.  The  hostile  fleets  remained  in  sight 
of  each  other  till  the  26th,  when  the  enemy  bore  away.  The 
capture  of  two  ships  from  so  superior  a  force  would  have  been 
considered  as  no  inconsiderable  victory  a  few  years  earlier,  but 
Nelson  had  introduced  a  new  era  in  our  naval  history,  and  the 
nation  felt  respecting  this  action  as  he  had  felt  on  a  somewhat 
similar  occasion.  They  regretted  that  Nelson,  with  his  eleven 
ships,  had  not  been  in  Sir  Robert  Calder's  place,  and  their  dis- 
appointment was  generally  and  loudly  expressed. 

Frustrated  as  his  own  hopes  had  been.  Nelson  had  yet  the 
high  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  his  judgment  had  never 
been  more  conspicuously  approved,  and  that  he  had  rendered 
essential  service  to  his  country  by  driving  the  enemy  from 
those  islands  where  they  expected  there  could  be  no  force 
capable  of  opposing  them.  The  West  India  merchants  in 
London,  as  men  whose  interests  were  more  immediately  bene- 
fited, appointed  a  deputation  to  express  their  thanks  for  his 
great  and  judicious  exertions.  It  was  now  his  intention  to 
rest  awhile  from  his  labors,  and  recruit  himself,  after  all  his 


202  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

fatigues  and  cares,  in  the  society  of  those  whom  he  loved.  All 
his  stores  were  brought  up  from  the  Victory,  and  he  found  in 
his  house  at  Merton  the  enjoyment  which  he  had  anticipated. 
Many  days  had  not  elapsed  before  Captain  Blackwood,  on  his 
way  to  London  with  dispatches,  called  on  him  at  five  in  the 
morning.  Nelson,  who  was  already  dressed,  exclaimed,  the 
moment  he  saw  him :  "I  am  sure  you  bring  me  news  of  the 
French  and  Spanish  fleets !  I  think  I  shall  yet  have  to  beat 
them!  " 

They  had  refitted  at  Vigo,  after  the  indecisive  action  with 
Sir  Robert  Calder;  then  proceeded  to  Ferrol,  brought  out  the 
squadron  from  thence,  and  with  it  entered  Cadiz  in  safety. 
"  Depend  upon  it,  Blackwood,"  he  repeatedly  said,  "  I  shall 
yet  give  M.  Villeneuve  a  drubbing."  But  when  Blackwood 
had  left  him  he  wanted  resolution  to  declare  his  wishes  to. 
Lady  Hamilton  and  his  sisters,  and  endeavored  to  drive  away 
the  thought.  He  had  done  enough,  he  said ;  "  let  the  man 
trudge  it  who  has  lost  his  budget !  "  His  countenance  belied 
his  lips  ;  and  as  he  was  pacing  one  of  the  walks  in  the  garden, 
which  he  used  to  call  the  quarter-deck.  Lady  Hamilton  came 
up  to  him  and  told  him  she  saw  he  was  uneasy.  He  smiled, 
and  said:  "No,  he  was  as  happy  as  possible;  he  was  sur- 
rounded by  his  family,  his  health  was  better  since  he  had  been 
on  shore,  and  he  would  not  give  sixpence  to  call  the  King  his 
uncle." 

She  replied  that  she  did  not  believe  him,  that  she  knew  he 
was  longing  to  get  at  the  combined  fleets,  that  he  considered 
them  as  his  own  property,  that  he  would  be  miserable  if  any 
man  but  himself  did  the  business,  and  that  he  ought  to  have 
them  as  the  price  and  reward  of  his  two  years  long  watching 
and  his  hard  chase.  ''  Nelson,"  said  she,  "  however  we  may 
lament  your  absence,  offer  your  services  ;  they  will  be  accepted, 
and  you  will  gain  a  quiet  heart  by  it ;  you  will  have  a  glorious 
victory,  and  then  you  may  return  here  and   be  happy."     He 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  203 

looked  at  her  with  tears  in  his  eyes  :  "  Brave  Emma  !  Good 
Emma !  If  there  were  more  Emmas,  there  would  be  more 
Nelsons."  ^ 

His  services  were  as  willingly  accepted  as  they  were  offered, 
and  Lord  Barham,  giving  him  the  list  of  the  navy,  desired  him 
to  choose  his  own  officers.  *'  Choose  yourself,  my  lord,"  was 
his  reply  ;  **  the  same  spirit  actuates  the  whole  profession  ;  you 
cannot  chose  wrong."  Lord  Barham  then  desired  him  to  say 
what  ships  and  how  many  he  would  wish,  in  addition  to  the 
fleet  which  he  was  going  to  command,  and  said  they  should 
follow  him  as  soon  as  each  was  ready.  No  appointment  was 
ever  more  in  unison  with  the  feelings  and  judgment  of  the 
whole  nation.  They,  like  Lady  Hamilton,  thought  that  the 
destruction  of  the  combined  fleets  ought  properly  to  be  Nelson's 
work ;  that  he  who  had  been 

"  Half  around  the  sea-girt  ball 
The  hunter  of  the  recreant  Gaul,"  2 

ought  to  reap  the  spoils  of  the  chase,  which  he  had  watched  so 
long  and  so  perseveringly  pursued. 

Unremitting  exertions  were  made  to  equip  the  ships  which 
he  had  chosen,  and  especially  to  refit  the  Victory,  which  was 
once  more  to  bear  his  flag.  Before  he  left  London  he  called  at 
his  upholsterer's,  where  the  coffin  which  Captain  Hallowell  had 
given  him  was  deposited,  and  desired  that  its  history  might  be 
engraven  upon  the  lid,  saying,  it  was  highly  probable  he  might 
want  it  on  his  return.  He  seemed,  indeed,  to  have  been 
impressed  with  an  expectation  that  he  should  fall  in  the  battle. 

1  "  One  of  the  many  lies  with  a  purpose  which  Lady  Hamilton  put  in 
circulation  in  order  to  strengthen  the  claims  which  she  fancied  she  had  on 
the  government.  Southey,  ignorantly  or  inconsiderately,  gave  it  currency 
which  it  could  not  otherwise  have  had,  and  it  has  thus  been  very  commonly 
received  as  absolute  fact.  It  is,  on  the  contrary,  absolute  falsehood."  — 
Laughton's  Nelso7t  {English  Men  of  Action). 

2  Songs  of  Trafalgar y  J.  W.  Croker. 


204  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

In  a  letter  to  his  brother,  written  immediately  after  his  return, 
he  had  said  :  "  We  must  not  talk  of  Sir  Robert  Calder's  battle. 
I  might  not  have  done  so  much  with  my  small  force.  If  I  had 
fallen  in  with  them,  you  might  probably  have  been  a  lord 
before  I  wished,  for  I  know  they  meant  to  make  a  dead  set  at 
the  Victory J^ 

Nelson  had  once  regarded  the  prospect  of  death  with  gloomy 
satisfaction.  The  state  of  his  feelings  now  was  expressed  in 
his  private  journal  in  these  words  :  "  Friday  night  (Sept.  13th), 
at  half-past  ten,  I  drove  from  dear,  dear  Merton,  where  I  left 
all  which  I  hold  dear  in  this  world,  to  go  to  serve  my  King  and 
country.  May  the  great  God  whom  I  adore  enable  me  to  fulfil 
the  expectations  of  my  country  !  And  if  it  is  His  good  pleasure 
that  I  should  return,  my  thanks  will  never  cease  being  offered 
up  to  the  throne  of  His  mercy.  If  it  is  His  good  providence  to 
cut  short  my  days  upon  earth,  I  bow  with  the  greatest  sub- 
mission ;  relying  that  He  will  protect  those  so  dear  to  me  whom 
I  may  leave  behind  1  His  will  be  done.  Amen !  Amen ! 
Amen ! " 

Early  on  the  following  morning  he  reached  Portsmouth,  and 
having  dispatched  his  business  on  shore,  endeavored  to  elude 
the  populace  by  taking  a  by-way  to  the  beach,  but  a  crowd 
collected  in  his  train,  pressing  forward  to  obtain  sight  of  his 
face ;  many  were  in  tears,  and  many  knelt  down  before  him, 
and  blessed  him  as  they  passed.  England  has  had  many 
heroes,  but  never  one  who  so  entirely  possessed  the  love  of  his 
fellow-countrymen  as  Nelson.  All  men  knew  that  his  heart 
was  as  humane  as  it  was  fearless ;  that  there  was  not  in  his 
nature  the  slightest  alloy  of  selfishness  or  cupidity,  but  that 
with  perfect  and  entire  devotion  he  served  his  country  with  all 
his  heart,  and  with  all  his  soul,  and  with  all  his  strength  ;  and 
therefore  they  loved  him  as  truly  and  as  fervently  as  he  loved 
England.  They  pressed  upon  the  parapet  to  gaze  after  him 
when  his  barge  pushed  off,  and  he  was  returning  their  cheers 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  205 

by  waving  his  hat.  The  sentinels,  who  endeavored  to  prevent 
them  from  trespassing  upon  this  ground,  were  wedged  among 
the  crowd,  and  an  officer,  who,  not  very  prudently  upon  such 
an  occasion,  ordered  them  to  drive  the  people  down  with  their 
bayonets,  was  compelled  speedily  to  retreat ;  for  the  people 
would  not  be  debarred  from  gazing  till  the  last  moment  upon 
the  hero  —  the  darling  hero  —  of  England. 

He  arrived  off  Cadiz  on  the  29th  of  September  —  his  birth- 
day. Fearing  that,  if  the  enemy  knew  his  force,  they  might 
be  deterred  from  venturing  to  sea,  he  kept  out  of  sight  of  land, 
desired  Collingwood  to  fire  no  salute  and  hoist  no  colors,  and 
wrote  to  Gibraltar  to  request  that  the  force  of  the  fleet  might 
not  be  inserted  there  in  the  "  Gazette." 

His  reception  in  the  Mediterranean  fleet  was  as  gratifying 
as  the  farewell  of  his  countrymen  at  Portsmouth  ;  the  officers 
who  came  on  board  to  welcome  him,  forgot  his  rank  as  com- 
mander in  their  joy  at  seeing  him  again.  On  the  day  of  his 
arrival  Villeneuve  received  orders  to  put  to  sea  the  first  oppor- 
tunity. Villeneuve,  however,  hesitated  when  he  heard  that 
Nelson  had  resumed  the  command.  He  called  a  council  of 
war,  and  their  determination  was  that  it  would  not  be  expe- 
dient to  leave  Cadiz  unless  they  had  reason  to  believe  them- 
selves stronger  by  one-third  than  the  British  force.  In  the 
public  measures  of  this  country  secrecy  is  seldom  practicable 
and  seldom  attempted;  here,  however,  by  the  precautions  of 
Nelson  and  the  wise  measures  of  the  Admiralty,  the  enemy 
were  for  once  kept  in  ignorance  ;  for,  as  the  ships  appointed  to 
reinforce  the  Mediterranean  fleet  were  dispatched  singly,  each 
as  soon  as  it  was  ready,  their  collected  number  was  not  stated 
in  the  newspapers,  and  their  arrival  was  not  known  to  the 
enemy.  But  the  enemy  knew  that  Admiral  Louis,  with  six 
sail,  had  been  detached  for  stores  and  water  to  Gibraltar. 
Accident  also  contributed  to  make  the  French  admiral  doubt 
whether  Nelson  himself  had  actually  taken  the  command.     An 


2o6  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

American,  lately  arrived  from  England,  maintained  that  it  was 
impossible,  for  he  had  seen  him  only  a  few  days  before  in  Lon- 
don, and  at  that  time  there  was  no  rumor  of  his  going  again  to 
sea. 

The  station  which  Nelson  had  chosen  was  some  fifty  or  sixty 
miles  to  the  west  of  Cadiz,  near  Cape  St.  Mary's.  At  this 
distance  he  hoped  to  decoy  the  enemy  out,  while  he  guarded 
against  the  danger  of  being  caught  with  a  westerly  wind  near 
Cadiz,  and  driven  within  the  Straits.  The  blockade  of  the 
port  was  rigorously  enforced,  in  hopes  that  the  combined  fleet 
might  be  forced  to  sea  by  want.  The  Danish  vessels,  therefore, 
which  were  carrying  provisions  from  the  French  ports  in  the 
bay,  under  the  name  of  Danish  property,  to  all  the  little  ports 
from  Ayamonte  to  Algeziras,  from  whence  they  were  conveyed 
in  coasting  boats  to  Cadiz,  were  seized.  Without  this  proper 
exertion  of  power  the  blockade  would  have  been  rendered 
nugatory  by  the  advantage  thus  taken  of  the  neutral  flag.  The 
supplies  from  France  were  thus  effectually  cut  off.  There  was 
now  every  indication  that  the  enemy  would  speedily  venture 
out ;  officers  and  men  were  in  the  highest  spirits  at  the  prospect 
of  giving  them  a  decisive  blow — such,  indeed,  as  would  put  an 
end  to  all  further  contest  upon  the  seas. 

Theatrical  amusements  were  performed  every  evening  in 
most  of  the  ships,  and  ''  God  save  the  King "  was  the  hymn 
with  which  the  sports  concluded.  "  I  verily  believe,"  said 
Nelson,  writing  on  the  6th  of  October,  "  that  the  country  will 
soon  be  put  to  some  expense  on  my  account,  either  a  monu- 
ment or  a  new  pension  and  honors  ;  for  I  have  not  the  smallest 
doubt  but  that  a  very  few  days,  almost  hours,  will  put  us  in 
battle.  The  success  no  man  can  insure,  but  for  the  fighting 
them,  if  they  can  be  got  at,  I  pledge  myself.  The  sooner  the 
better ;  I  don't  like  to  have  these  things  upon  my  mind." 

At  this  time  he  was  not  without  some  cause  of  anxiety ;  he 
was  in  want  of  frigates,  —  the  eyes  of  the  fleet,  as  he  always 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  20/ 

called  them,  —  to  the  want  of  which  the  enemy  before  were 
indebted  for  their  escape,  and  Bonaparte  for  his  arrival  in 
Egypt.  He  had  only  twenty-three  ships  ;  others  were  on  the 
way,  but  they  might  come  too  late ;  and  though  Nelson  never 
doubted  of  victory,  mere  victory  was  not  what  he  looked  to ; 
he  wanted  to  annihilate  the  enemy's  fleet.  The  Carthagena 
squadron  might  effect  a  junction  with  this  fleet  on  the  one 
side,  and  on  the  other  it  was  to  be  expected  that  a  similar 
attempt  would  be  made  by  the  French  from  Brest ;  in  either 
case  a  formidable  contingency  to  be  apprehended  by  the 
blockading  force.  The  Rochefort  squadron  did  push  out,  and 
had  nearly  caught  the  Agamemfion  and  U Aimable  in  their  way 
to  reinforce  the  British  admiral.  Yet  Nelson  at  this  time 
weakened  his  own  fleet.  He  had  the  unpleasant  task  to  per- 
form of  sending  home  Sir  Robert  Calder,  whose  conduct  was 
to  be  made  the  subject  of  a  court-martial  in  consequence  of  the 
general  dissatisfaction  which  had  been  felt  and  expressed  at 
his  imperfect  victory. 

Sir  Robert  Calder  and  Sir  John  Orde,  Nelson  believed  to  be 
the  only  two  enemies  whom  he  had  ever  had  in  his  profession ; 
and,  from  that  sensitive  delicacy  which  distinguished  him,  this 
made  him  the  more  scrupulously  anxious  to  show  every  possi- 
ble mark  of  respect  and  kindness  to  Sir  Robert.  He  wished 
to  detain  him  till  after  the  expected  action,  when  the  services 
which  he  might  perform,  and  the  triumphant  joy  which  would 
be  excited,  would  lead  nothing  to  be  apprehended  from  an 
inquiry  into  the  previous  engagement.  Sir  Robert,  however, 
whose  situation  was  very  painful,  did  not  choose  to  delay  a 
trial  from  the  result  of  which  he  confidently  expected  a  com- 
plete justification ;  and  Nelson,  instead  of  sending  him  home 
in  a  frigate,  insisted  on  his  returning  in  his  own  ninety-gun  ship, 
ill  as  such  a  ship  could  at  that  time  be  spared.  Nothing  could 
be  more  honorable  than  the  feeling  by  which  Nelson  was  influ- 
enced, but  at  such  a  crisis  it  ought  not  to  have  been  indulged, 


2o8  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

On  the  9th  Nelson  sent  Collingwood  what  he  called  in  his 
diary  "  the  Nelson-touch."  "  I  send  you,"  said  he,  "  my  plan 
of  attack,  as  far  as  a  man  dare  venture  to  guess  at  the  very 
uncertain  position  the  enemy  may  be  found  in ;  but  it  is  to 
place  you  perfectly  at  ease  respecting  my  intentions,  and  to 
give  full  scope  to  your  judgment  for  carrying  them  into  eifect. 
We  can,  my  dear  Coll,  have  no  little  jealousies.  We  have  only 
one  great  object  in  view,  that  of  annihilating  our  enemies,  and 
getting  a  glorious  peace  for  our  country.  No  man  has  more 
confidence  in  another  than  I  have  in  you,  and  no  man  will 
render  your  services  more  justice  than  your  very  old  friend, 
Nelson  and  Bronte." 

The  order  of  sailing  was  to  be  the  order  of  battle  —  the  fleet 
in  two  lines,  with  an  advanced  squadron  of  eight  of  the  fastest 
sailing  two-deckers.  The  second  in  command,  having  the 
entire  direction  of  his  line,  was  to  break  through  the  enemy, 
about  the  twelfth  ship  from  their  rear ;  he  would  lead  through 
the  center,  and  the  advanced  squadron  was  to  cut  off  three  or 
four  ahead  of  the  center.  This  plan  was  to  be  adapted  to  the 
strength  of  the  enemy,  so  that  they  should  always  be  one-fourth 
superior  to  those  whom  they  cut  off.  Nelson  said  that  "  his 
admirals  and  captains,  knowing  his  precise  object  to  be  that  of 
a  close  and  decisive  action,  would  supply  any  deficiency  of 
signals  and  act  accordingly.  In  case  signals  cannot  be  seen 
or  clearly  understood,  no  captain  can  do  wrong  if  he  places  his 
ship  alongside  that  of  an  enemy."  One  of  the  last  orders  of 
this  admirable  man  was  that  the  name  and  family  of  every 
officeTj  seaman,  and  marine,  who  might  be  killed  or  wounded 
in  action,  should  be  as  soon  as  possible  returned  to  him,  in 
order  to  be  transmitted  to  the  chairman  of  the  patriotic  fund, 
that  the  case  might  be  taken  into  consideration  for  the  benefit 
of  the  sufferer  or  his  family. 

About  half-past  nine  in  the  morning  of  the  19th  the  Mars, 
being  the  nearest  to  the  fleet  of  the  ships  which  formed  the 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  209 

line  of  communication  with  the  frigates  inshore,  repeated  the 
signal  that  the  enemy  were  coming  oui  of  port.  The  wind  was 
at  this  time  very  light,  with  partial  breezes,  mostly  from  the 
S.S.W.  Nelson  ordered  the  signal  to  be  made  for  a  chase 
in  the  southeast  quarter.  About  two,  the  repeating  ships 
announced  that  the  enemy  were  at  sea.  All  night  the  British 
fleet  continued  under  all  sail,  steering  to  the  southeast.  At 
daybreak  they  were  in  the  entrance  of  the  Straits,  but  the 
enemy  were  not  in  sight.  About  seven,  one  of  the  frigates 
made  signal  that  the  enemy  were  bearing  north.  Upon  this 
the  Victory  hove  to,  and  shortly  afterwards  Nelson  made  sail 
again  to  the  northward.  In  the  afternoon  the  wind  blew  fresh 
from  the  southwest,  and  the  English  began  to  fear  that  the  foe 
might  be  forced  to  return  to  port. 

A  little  before  sunset,  however,  Blackwood,  in  the  Euryalus, 
telegraphed  that  they  appeared  determined  to  go  to  the  west- 
ward. "  And  that,"  said  the  admiral  in  his  diary,  "  they  shall 
not  do,  if  it  is  in  the  power  of  Nelson  and  Bronte  to  prevent 
them."  Nelson  had  signified  to  Blackwood  that  he  depended 
upon  him  to  keep  sight  of  the  enemy.  They  were  observed  so 
well  that  all  their  motions  were  made  known  to  him,  and  as 
they  wore  twice,  he  inferred  that  they  were  aiming  to  keep  the 
port  of  Cadiz  open,  and  would  retreat  there  as  soon  as  they 
saw  the  British  fleet ;  for  this  reason  he  was  very  careful  not  to 
approach  near  enough  to  be  seen  by  them  during  the  night. 
At  daybreak  the  combined  fleets  were  distinctly  seen  from  the 
Victory s  deck,  formed  in  a  close  line-of-battle  ahead,  on  the 
starboard  tack,  about  twelve  miles  to  leeward,  and  standing  to 
the  south.  Our  fleet  consisted  of  twenty-seven  sail  of  the  line 
and  four  frigates ;  theirs  of  thirty-three  and  seven  large  frigates. 
Their  superiority  was  greater  in  size  and  weight  of  metal  than 
in  numbers.  They  had  four  thousand  troops  on  board,  and  the 
best  riflemen  that  could  be  procured,  many  of  them  Tyrolese, 
were  dispersed  through  the  ships.     Little  did  the  Tyrolese  and 


2IO  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

little  did  the  Spaniards  at  that  day  imagine  what  horrors  the 
wicked  tyrant  whom  they  served  was  preparing  for  their 
country. 

Soon  after  daylight  Nelson  came  upon  deck.  The  21st  of 
October  was  a  festival  in  his  family,  because  on  that  day  his 
uncle,  Captain  Suckling,  in  the  Dreadnought^  with  two  other 
line-of-battle  ships,  had  beaten  off  a  French  squadron  of  four 
sail  of  the  line  and  three  frigates.  Nelson,  with  that  sort  of 
superstition  from  which  few  persons  are  entirely  exempt,  had 
more  than  once  expressed  his  persuasion  that  this  was  to  be 
the  day  of  his  battle  also,  and  he  was  well  pleased  at  seeing  his 
prediction  about  to  be  verified.  The  wind  was  now  from  the 
west,  —  light  breezes,  with  a  long  heavy  swell.  Signal  was 
made  to  bear  down  upon  the  enemy  in  two  lines,  and  the  fleet 
set  all  sail.  Collingwood,  in  the  Royal  Sovereign^  led  the  lee 
line  of  thirteen  ships ;  the  Victory  led  the  weather  line  of  four- 
teen. Having  seen  that  all  was  as  it  should  be.  Nelson  retired 
to  his  cabin  and  wrote  the  following  prayer :  -^ 

**  May  the  great  God  whom  I  worship  grant  to  my  country, 
and  for  the  benefit  of  Europe  in  general,  a  great  and  glorious 
victory,  and  may  no  misconduct  in  any  one  tarnish  it,  and  may 
humanity  after  victory  be  the  predominant  feature  in  the 
British  fleet !  For  myself  individually,  I  commit  my  life  to 
Him  that  made  me,  and  may  His  blessing  alight  on  my  endeav- 
ors for  serving  my  country  faithfully  !     To  Him  I  resign  myself, 

^  Wrote  the  following  prayer.  —  About  eleven  a.m.  of  the  21st  of 
October,  Lieutenant  Pasco  had  to  make  a  report  to  Lord  Nelson,  and 
intended  at  the  same  time  to  have  represented  to  him  that  he  considered 
himself  very  unfortunate,  on  so  glorious  an  occasion,  to  be  doing  duty  in 
an  inferior  station,  instead  of  that  to  which  his  seniority  entitled  him.  "  On 
entering  the  cabin,"  says  Captain  Pasco,  ''  I  discovered  his  lordship  on  his 
knees  writing.  He  was  then  penning  that  beautiful  prayer.  I  waited  until 
he  rose,  and  communicated  what  I  had  to  report,  but  could  not  at  such  a 
moment  disturb  his  mind  with  any  grievances  of  mine."  —  Nelson's  Dis- 
;patches,  vii.  140. 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  211 

and  the  just  cause  which  is  entrusted  to  me  to  defend.     Amen, 
Amen,  Amen." 

Having  thus  discharged  his  devotional  duties,  he  annexed, 
in  the  same  diary,  the  following  remarkable  writing : 

"  October  21^  180^.  —  Then    in  sight  of  the  combined  fleets  of 
France  a?zd  Spain,  distant  about  ten  miles, 

"  Whereas,  the  eminent  services  of  Emma  Hamilton,  widow 
of  the  Right  Honorable  Sir  William  Hamilton,  have  been  of  the 
very  greatest  service  to  my  King  and  my  country,  to  my  knowl- 
edge, without  ever  receiving  any  reward  from  either  our  King 
or  country: 

"  First,  that  she  obtained  the  King  of  Spain's  letter,  in  1796, 
to  his  brother,  the  King  of  Naples,  acquainting  him  of  his 
intention  to  declare  war  against  England ;  from  which  letter 
the  Ministry  sent  out  orders  to  the  then  Sir  John  Jervis  to 
strike  a  stroke,  if  opportunity  offered,  against  either  the 
arsenals  of  Spain  or  her  fleets.  That  neither  of  these  was 
done  is  not  the  fault  of  Lady  Hamilton  ;  the  opportunity  might 
have  been  offered. 

"  Secondly,  the  British  fleet  under  my  command  could  never 
have  returned  the  second  time  to  Egypt  had  not  Lady  Hamilton's 
influence  with  the  Queen  of  Naples  caused  letters  to  be  wrote 
to  the  governor  of  Syracuse,  that  he  was  to  encourage  the 
fleet's  being  supplied  with  everything,  should  they  put  into  any 
port  in  Sicily.  We  put  into  Syracuse,  and  received  every 
supply,  went  to  Egypt,  and  destroyed  the  French  fleet. 

*'  Could  I  have  rewarded  these  services,  I  would  not  now 
call  upon  my  country ;  but  as  that  has  not  been  in  my  power, 
I  leave  Emma  Lady  Hamilton  therefore  a  legacy  to  my  King 
and  country,  that  they  will  give  her  an  ample  provision  to 
maintain  her  rank  in  life. 

"  These  are  the  only  favors  I  ask  of  my  King  and  country 
at  this  moment  when  I  am  going  to  fight  their  battle.     May 


212  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

God  bless  my  King  and  country,  and  all  those  I  hold  dear ! 
My  relations  it  is  needless  to  mention ;  they  will,  of  course,  be 
amply  provided  for. 

"  Nelson  and  Bronte. 

"Witness  I  ^'^''''''  Blackwood, 
^'^""^^^  (  T.  M.  Hardy." 

Blackwood  went  on  board  the  Victory  about  six.  He  found 
him  in  good  spirits,  but  very  calm,  not  in  that  exhilaration  which 
he  felt  upon  entering  into  battle  at  Aboukir  and  Copenhagen  ; 
he  knew  that  his  own  life  would  be  particularly  aimed  at,  and 
seems  to  have  looked  for  death  with  almost  as  sure  an  expecta- 
tion as  for  victory.  His  whole  attention  was  fixed  upon  the 
enemy.  They  tacked  to  the  northward,  and  formed  their  line 
on  the  larboard  tack ;  thus  bringing  the  shoals  of  Trafalgar  and 
St.  Pedro  under  the  lee  of  the  British,  and  keeping  the  port  of 
Cadiz  open  for  themselves.  This  was  judiciously  done ;  and 
Nelson,  aware  of  all  the  advantages  which  he  gave  them,  made 
signal  to  prepare  to  anchor. 

Villeneuve  was  a  skilful  seaman,  worthy  of  serving  a  better 
master  and  a  better  cause.  His  plan  of  defense  was  as  well 
conceived  and  as  original  as  the  plan  of  attack.  He  formed 
the  fleet  in  a  double  line,  every  alternate  ship  being  about 
a  cable's  length  to  windward  of  her  second  ahead  and  astern. 
Nelson,  certain  of  a  triumphant  issue  to  the  day,  asked  Black- 
wood what  he  should  consider  as  a  victory.  That  officer 
answered,  that,  considering  the  handsome  way  in  which  battle 
was  offered  by  the  enemy,  their  apparent  determination  for  a 
fair  trial  of  strength,  and  the  situation  of  the  land,  he  thought 
it  would  be  a  glorious  result  if  fourteen  were  captured.  He 
replied :  "  I  shall  not  be  satisfied  with  less  than  twenty." 
Soon  afterwards  he  asked  him  if  he  did  not  think  there  was  a 
signal  wanting.  Captain  Blackwood  made  answer  that  he 
thought  the  whole  fleet  seemed  very  clearly  to  understand  what 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  213 

they  were  about.  These  words  were  scarcely  spoken  before 
that  signal  was  made  which  will  be  remembered  as  long  as  the 
language  or  even  the  memory  of  England  shall  endure,  — 
Nelson's  last  signal :  *'  England  expects  every  man  will  do 
HIS  DUTY  ! "  It  was  received  throughout  the  fleet  with  a  shout 
of  answering  acclamation,  made  sublime  by  the  spirit  which  it 
breathed  and  the  feeling  which  it  expressed.  "  Now,"  said 
Lord  Nelson,  ^'  I  can  do  no  more.  We  must  trust  to  the  great 
Disposer  of  all  events  and  the  justice  of  our  cause.  I  thank 
God  for  this  great  opportunity  of  doing  my  duty." 

He  wore  that  day,  as  usual,  his  admiral's  frock-coat,  bearing 
on  the  left  breast  four  stars  of  the  different  orders  with  which 
he  was  invested.-^  Ornaments  which  rendered  him  so  conspicu- 
ous a  mark  for  the  enemy  were  beheld  with  ominous  apprehen- 
sion by  his  officers.  It  was  known  that  there  were  riflemen  on 
board  the  French  ships,  and  it  could  not  be  doubted  but  that 
his  life  would  be  particularly  aimed  at.  They  communicated 
their  fears  to  each  other,  and  the  surgeon,  Mr.  Beatty,^  spoke 
to  the  chaplain,  Dr.  Scott,  and  to  Mr.  Scott,  the  public  secretary, 
desiring  that  some  person  would  entreat  him  to  change  his 
dress  or  cover  the  stars ;  but  they  knew  that  such  a  request 
would  highly  displease  him.     "  In  honor  I  gained  them,"  he 

1  The  stars  of  *the  different  orders  were  the  Order  of  the  Bath,  of  the 
Sicilian  Order  of  St.  Ferdinand  and  Merit,  of  the  Turkish  Order  of  the 
Crescent,  and  of  the  Order  of  St.  Joachim,  conferred  by  the  Emperor  Paul 
as  Grand  Master  of  the  Knights  of  Malta,  which,  according  to  the  custom 
of  the  time,  were  embroidered  on  his  coat.  It  has  been  claimed  that 
Nelson  put  on  a  special  coat  for  the  battle,  and  that  he  put  on  all  his 
decorations  specially  for  the  occasion.  But  it  is  clear  from  the  testimony 
of  eye-witnesses  as  stated  in  Nicolas's  "Letters  "  that  he  wore  in  the  battle 
the  same  coat  that  he  always  wore,  to  which  the  embroidered  stars  were 
permanently  attached.     This  coat  may  be  seen  in  Greenwich  Hospital. 

2  Nelson's  surgeon  in  the  Victory,  afterwards  Sir  William  Beatty.  He 
wrote  an  "  Authentic  Narrative "  of  Nelson's  death,  and  kept  the  fatal 
bullet,  which  was  afterward  presented  to  the  Queen,  and  is  now  at  Windsor 
Castle. 


214  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

had  said  when  such  a  thing  had  been  hinted  to  him  formerly, 
''and  in  honor  I  will  die  with  them."  Mr.  Beatty,  however, 
would  not  have  been  deterred  by  any  fear  of  exciting  his 
displeasure  from  speaking  to  him  himself  upon  a  subject  in 
which  the  weal  of  England,  as  well  as  the  life  of  Nelson, 
was  concerned ;  but  he  was  ordered  from  the  deck  before  he 
could  find  an  opportunity.  This  was  a  point  upon  which 
Nelson's  officers  knew  that  it  was  hopeless  to  remonstrate  or 
reason  with  him ;  but  both  Blackwood  and  his  own  captain. 
Hardy,  represented  to  him  how  advantageous  to  the  fleet  it 
would  be  for  him  to  keep  out  of  action  as  long  as  possible,  and 
he  consented  at  last  to  let  the  Leviathan  and  the  Tenitraire, 
which  were  sailing  abreast  of  the  Victory^  be  ordered  to  pass 
ahead. 

Yet  even  here  the  last  infirmity  of  this  noble  mind  was 
indulged,  for  these  ships  could  not  pass  ahead  if  the  Victory 
continued  to  carry  all  her  sail ;  and  so  far  was  Nelson  from 
shortening  sail,  that  it  was  evident  he  took  pleasure  in  pressing 
on,  and  rendering  it  impossible  for  them  to  obey  his  own  orders. 
A  long  swell  was  setting  into  the  Bay  of  Cadiz.  Our  ships, 
crowding  all  sail,  moved  majestically  before  it,  with  light  winds 
from  the  southwest.  The  sun  shone  on  the  sails  of  the 
enemy,  and  their  well-formed  line,  with,  their  numerous  three- 
deckers,  made  an  appearance  which  any  other  assailants  would 
have  thought  formidable,  but  the  British  sailors  only  admired 
the  beauty  and  the  splendor  of  the  spectacle,  and  in  full 
confidence  of  winning  what  they  saw,  remarked  to  each  other 
what  a  fine  sight  yonder  ships  would  make  at  Spithead ! 

The  French  admiral,  from  the  Bucentaure^  beheld  the  new 
manner  in  which  his  enemy  was  advancing,  —  Nelson  and 
Collingwood  each  leading  his  line  ;  and  pointing  them  out  to 
his  officers,  he  is  said  to  have  exclaimed  -that  such  conduct 
could  not  fail  to  be  successful.  Yet  Villeneuve  had  made  his 
own  dispositions  with  the  utmost  skill,  and  the  fleets  under  his^ 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  21  5 

command  waited  for  the  attack  with  perfect  coolness.  Ten 
minutes  before  twelve  they  opened  their  fire.  Eight  or  nine 
of  the  ships  immediately  ahead  of  the  Victory^  and  across  her 
bows,  fired  single  guns  at  her  to  ascertain  whether  she  was  yet 
within  their  range.  As  soon  as  Nelson  perceived  that  their 
shot  passed  over  him,  he  desired  Blackwood  and  Captain 
Prowse,  of  the  Sirius,  to  repair  to  their  respective  frigates,  and 
on  their  way  to  tell  all  the  captains  of  the  line-of-battle  ships 
that  he  depended  on  their  exertions,  and  that,  if  by  the 
prescribed  mode  of  attack  they  found  it  impracticable  to  get 
into  action  immediately,  they  might  adopt  whatever  they 
thought  best,  provided  it  led  them  quickly  and  closely  along- 
side an  enemy.  As  they  were  standing  on  the  front  poop, 
Blackwood  took  him  by  the  hand,  saying  he  hoped  soon  to 
return  and  find  him  in  possession  of  twenty  prizes.  He  replied, 
"  God  bless  you,  Blackwood  ;   I  shall  never  see  you  again." 

Nelson's  column  was  steered  about  two  points  more  to  the 
north  than  Collingwood's,  in  order  to  cut  off  the  enemy's 
escape  into  Cadiz.  The  lee  line,  therefore,  was  first  engaged. 
"  See,"  cried  Nelson,  pointing  to  the  Royal  Sovereign,  as  she 
steered  right  for  the  center  of  the  enemy's  line,  cut  through  it 
astern  of  the  Santa  Anna,  three-decker,  and  engaged  her  at  the 
muzzle  of  her  guns  on  the  starboard  side ;  **  see  how  that  noble 
fellow  Collingwood  carries  his  ship  into  action  !  "  Collingwood, 
delighted  at  being  first  in  the  heat  of  the  fire,  and  knowing  the 
feelings  of  his  commander  and  old  friend,  turned  to  his  captain 
and  exclaimed :  "  Rotherham,  what  would  Nelson  give  to  be 
here  !  "  Both  these  brave  officers,  perhaps,  at  this  moment 
thought  of  Nelson  with  gratitude  for  a  circumstance  which  had 
occurred  on  the  preceding  day.  Admiral  Collingwood,  with 
some  of  the  captains,  having  gone  on  board  the  Victory  to 
receive  instructions.  Nelson  inquired  of  him  where  his  captain 
was,  and  was  told  in  reply  that  they  were  not  upon  good  terms 
with  each  other.     ''  Terms  !  "  said  Nelson  ;  ''  good  terms  with 


2l6  SOUTHEY^S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

each  other !  "  Immediately  he  sent  a  boat  for  Captain  Rother- 
ham,  led  him,  as  soon  as  he  arrived,  to  Collingwood,  and 
saying,  '*  Look,  yonder  are  the  enemy !  "  bade  them  shake 
hands  like  Enghshmen. 

The  enemy  continued  to  fire  a  gun  at  a  time  at  the  Victory, 
till  they  saw  that  a  shot  had  passed  through  her  main-topgallant 
sail ;  then  they  opened  her  broadsides,  aiming  chiefly  at  her 
rigging,  in  the  hope  of  disabling  her  before  she  could  close 
with  them.  Nelson  as  usual  had  hoisted  several  flags,  lest  one 
should  be  shot  away.  The  enemy  showed  no  colors  till  late 
in  the  action,  when  they  began  to  feel  the  necessity  of  having 
them  to  strike.  For  this  reason  the  Santissima  Trinidad, 
Nelson's  old  acquaintance,  as  he  used  to  call  her,  was  dis- 
tinguishable only  by  her  four  decks,  and  to  the  bow  of  this 
opponent  he  ordered  the  Victory  to  be  steered.  Meantime  an 
incessant  raking  fire  was  kept  up  upon  the  Victory,  The 
admiral's  secretary  was  one  of  the  first  who  fell ;  he  was  killed 
by  a  cannon  shot  while  conversing  with  Hardy.  Captain 
Adair,  of  the  marines,  with  the  help  of  a  sailor,  endeavored  to 
remove  the  body  from  Nelson's  sight,  who  had  a  great  regard 
for  Mr.  Scott;  but  he  anxiously  asked,  *'  Is  that  poor  Scott  that 's 
gone  ?  "  and  being  informed  that  it  was  indeed  so,  exclaimed, 
"  Poor  fellow  !  " 

Presently  a  double-headed  shot  struck  a  party  of  marines 
who  were  drawn  up  on  the  poop,  and  killed  eight  of  them,  upon 
which  Nelson  immediately  desired  Captain  Adair  to  disperse 
his  men  around  the  ship,  that  they  might  not  suffer  so  much 
from  being  together.  A  few  minutes  afterwards  a  shot  struck 
the  fore-brace  bits  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  passed  between 
Nelson  and  Hardy,  a  splinter  from  the  bit  tearing  off  Hardy's 
buckle  and  bruising  his  foot.  Both  stopped,  and  looked 
anxiously  at  each  other;  each  supposed  the  other  to  be 
wounded.  Nelson  then  smiled,  and  said :  "  This  is  too  warm 
work,  Hardy,  to  last  long." 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  21/ 

The  Victory  had  not  yet  returned  a  single  gun ;  fifty  of  her 
men  had  been  by  this  time  killed  or  wounded,  and  her  main- 
topmast,  with  all  her  studding  sails  and  their  booms,  shot 
away.  Nelson  declared  that  in  all  his  battles  he  had  seen 
nothing  which  surpassed  the  cool  courage  of  his  crew  on  this 
occasion.  At  four  minutes  after  twelve  she  opened  her  fire 
from  both  sides  of  her  deck.  It  was  not  possible  to  break  the 
enemy's  lines  without  running  on  board  one  of  their  ships ; 
Hardy  informed  him  of  this,  and  asked  him  which  he  would 
prefer.  Nelson  replied:  "Take  your  choice.  Hardy;  it  does 
not  signify  much."  The  master  was  ordered  to  put  the  helm 
to  port,  and  the  Victory  ran  on  board  the  Redoubtable  just  as 
her  tiller-ropes  were  shot  away.  The  French  ship  received  her 
with  a  broadside,  then  instantly  let  down  her  lower  deck  ports 
for  fear  of  being  boarded  through  them,  and  never  afterwards 
fired  a  great  gun  during  the  action.  Her  tops,  like  those  of  all 
the  enemy's  ships,  were  filled  with  riflemen.  Nelson  never 
placed  musketry  in  his  tops;  he  had  a  strong  dislike  to  the  f*"* 
practice,  not  merely  because  it  endangers  setting  fire  to  the 
sails,  but  also  because  it  is  a  murderous  sort  of  warfare,  by 
which  individuals  may  suffer  and  a  commander  now  and  then 
picked  off,  but  which  can  never  decide  the  fate  of  a  general 
engagement. 

Captain  Harvey,  in  the  Temeraire^  fell  on  board  the  Redoubt- 
able on  the  other  side ;  another  enemy  was  in  like  manner  on 
board  the  T^meraire ;  so  that  these  four  ships  formed  as  com- 
pact a  tier  as  if  they  had  been  moored  together,  their  heads  all 
lying  the  same  way.  The  lieutenants  of  the  Victory  seeing  this, 
depressed  their  guns  of  the  middle  and  lower  decks,  and  fired 
with  a  diminished  charge,  lest  the  shot  should  pass  through  and 
injure  the  Temeraire ;  and  because  there  was  danger  that  the 
Redoubtable  might  take  fire  from  the  lower  deck  guns,  the 
muzzles  of  which  touched  her  side  when  they  were  run  out, 
the  fireman  of  each  gun  stood  ready  with  a  bucket  of  water. 


2i8  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

which,  as  soon  as  the  gun  was  discharged,  he  dashed  into  the 
hole  made  by  the  shot.  An  incessant  fire  was  kept  up  from 
the  Victory  from  both  sides,  her  larboard  guns  playing  upon 
the  Bucentaure  and  the  huge  Santissima  Trinidad. 

It  had  been  part  of  Nelson's  prayer  that  the  British  fleet 
might  be  distinguished  by  humanity  in  the  victory  he  expected. 
Setting  an  example  himself,  he  twice  gave  orders  to  cease  firing 
upon  the  Redoubtable^  supposing  that  she  had  struck,  because 
her  great  guns  were  silent;  for,  as  she  carried  no  flag,  there  was 
no  means  of  instantly  ascertaining  the  fact.  From  this  ship, 
which  he  had  thus  twice  spared,  he  received  his  death.  A  ball 
fired  from  her  mizzen-top,  which  in  the  then  situation  of  the  two 
vessels  was  not  more  than  fifteen  yards  from  that  part  of  the 
deck  where  he  was  standing,  struck  the  epaulette  on  his  left 
shoulder,  about  a  quarter  after  one,  just  in  the  heat  of  action. 
He  fell  upon  his  face,  on  the  spot  which  was  covered  with  his 
poor  secretary's  blood.  Hardy,  who  was  a  few  steps  from  him, 
turning  round,  saw  three  men  raising  him  up.  "  They  have 
done  for  me  at  last.  Hardy  !  "  said  he.  "  I  hope  not !  "  cried 
Hardy.    **  Yes,"  he  replied,  "  my  back-bone  is  shot  through  !  " 

Yet  even  now,  not  for  a  moment  losing  his  presence  of 
mind,  he  observed  as  they  were  carrying  him  down  the  ladder 
that  the  tiller-ropes,  which  had  been  shot  away,  were  not  yet 
replaced,  and  ordered  that  new  ones  should  be  rove  immediately. 
Then,  that  he  might  not  be  seen  by  the  crew,  he  took  out  his 
handkerchief  and  covered  his  face  and  his  stars.  Had  he  but 
concealed  these  badges  of  honor  from  the  enemy,  England 
perhaps  would  not  have  had  cause  to  receive  with  sorrow  the 
news  of  the  battle  of  Trafalgar.  The  cockpit  was  crowded 
with  wounded  and  dying  men,  over  whose  bodies  he  was  with 
some  difficulty  conveyed,  and  laid  upon  a  pallet  in  the  midship- 
men's berth.  It  was  soon  perceived,  upon  examination,  that 
the  wound  was  mortal.  This,  however,  was  concealed  from  all 
except  Captain  Hardy,  the  chaplain,  and  the  medical  attendants. 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  219 

He  himself  being  certain,  from  the  sensation  in  his  back  and 
the  gush  of  blood  he  felt  momently  within  his  breast,  that  no 
human  care  could  avail  him,  insisted  that  the  surgeon  should 
leave  him,  and  attend  to  those  to  whom  he  might  be  useful, 
"  for,"  said  he,  "  you  can  do  nothing  for  me." 

All  that  could  be  done  was  to  fan  him  with  paper,  and 
frequently  give  him  lemonade  to  alleviate  his  intense  thirst. 
He  was  in  great  pain,  and  expressed  much  anxiety  for  the 
event  of  the  action,  which  now  began  to  declare  itself.  As 
often  as  a  ship  struck,  the  crew  of  the  Victory  hurrahed,  and  at 
every  hurrah  a  visible  expression  of  joy  gleamed  in  his  eyes  and 
marked  the  countenance  of  the  dying  hero.  But  he  became 
impatient  to  see  Captain  Hardy  ;  and  as  that  officer,  though 
often  sent  for,  could  not  leave  the  deck,  Nelson  feared  that 
some  fatal  cause  prevented  him,  and  repeatedly  cried,  **  Will 
no  one  bring  Hardy  to  me  1  Se  must  be  killed  !  He  is  surely 
dead ! " 

An  hour  and  ten  minutes  elapsed  from  the  time  when 
Nelson  received  his  wound  before  Hardy  could  come  to  him. 
They  shook  hands  in  silence ;  Hardy  in  vain  struggling  to 
express  the  feelings  of  that  most  painful  and  yet  sublimest 
moment.  **Well,  Hardy,"  said  Nelson,  **how  goes  the  day 
with  us.^"  —  "Very  well,"  replied  Hardy;  "ten  ships  have 
struck,  but  five  of  the  van  have  tacked,  and  show  an  intention 
to  bear  down  upon  the  Victory.  I  have  called  two  or  three  of 
our  fresh  ships  round,  and  have  no  doubt  of  giving  them  a 
drubbing." — "  I  hope,"  said  Nelson,  "none  of  our  ships  have 
struck  ?  "  Hardy  answered,  "  There  was  no  fear  of  that." 
Then,  and  not  till  then,  Nelson  spoke  of  himself.  "  I  am  a 
dead  man,  Hardy,"  said  he  ;  "I  am  going  fast ;  it  will  be  all 
over  with  me  soon.  Come  nearer  to  me."  Hardy  observed 
that  he  hoped  Mr.  Beatty  could  yet  hold  out  some  prospect  of 
life.  "  Oh  no  !  "  he  replied,  "  it  is  impossible ;  my  back  is  shot 
through.     Beatty  will  tell  you  so."     Captain  Hardy  then  once 


220  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

more  shook  hands  with  him,  and  with  a  heart  almost  bursting 
hastened  upon  deck. 

By  this  time  all  feeling  below  the  breast  was  gone ;  and 
Nelson,  having  made  the  surgeon  ascertain  this,  said  to  him : 
"  You  know  I  am  gone.  I  know  it.  I  feel  something  rising 
in  my  breast''  —  putting  his  hand  on  his  left  side  —  "which 
tells  me  so."  And  upon  Beatty's  inquiring  whether  his  pain 
was  very  great,  he  replied,  "  So  great  that  he  wished  he  was 
dead.  Yet,"  said  he  in  a  lower  voice,  "one  would  like  to  live 
a  little  longer,  too !  "  Captain  Hardy,  some  fifty  minutes 
after  he  had  left  the  cockpit,  returned,  and  again  taking  the 
hand  of  his  dying  friend  and  commander,  congratulated  him 
on  having  gained  a  complete  victory.  How  many  of  the 
enemy  were  taken  he  did  not  know,  as  it  was  impossible 
to  perceive  them  distinctly ;  but  fourteen  or  fifteen  at 
least.  "  That 's  well  !  "  cried  Nelson  ;  "  but  I  bargained 
for  twenty."  And  then  in  a  stronger  voice  he  said  : 
"  Anchor,  Hardy,  anchor."  Hardy  upon  this  hinted  that 
Admiral  CoUingwood  would  take  upon  himself  the  direction 
of  affairs.  "Not  while  I  live,  Hardy,"  said  the  dying  Nelson, 
ineffectually  endeavoring  to  raise  himself  from  the  bed;  "do 
you  anchor." 

His  previous  order  for  preparing  to  anchor  had  shown  how 
clearly  he  foresaw  the  necessity  of  this.  Presently  calling 
Hardy  back,  he  said  to  him  in  a  low  voice:  "Don't  throw  me 
overboard;"  and  he  desired  that  he  might  be  buried  by  his 
parents,  unless  it  should  please  the  King  to  order  otherwise. 
Then  turning  to  Hardy:  "Kiss  me.  Hardy,"  said  he.  Hardy 
knelt  down  and  kissed  his  cheek,  and  Nelson  said:  "Now  I 
am  satisfied.  Thank  God,  I  have  done  my  duty !  "  Hardy 
stood  over  him  in  silence  for  a  moment  or  two,  then  knelt 
again  and  kissed  his  forehead.  "  Who  is  that  ?  "  said  Nelson; 
and  being  informed,  he  replied:  "  God  bless  you.  Hardy."  And 
Hardy  then  left  him  forever. 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  221 

Nelson  now  desired  to  be  turned  upon  his  right  side,  and 
said:  "I  wish  I  had  not  left  the  deck,  for  I  shall  soon  be 
gone."  Death  was  indeed  rapidly  approaching.  He  said  to 
the  chaplain:  "Doctor,  I  have  not  been  2. great  sinner."  His 
articulation  now  became  difficult,  but  he  was  distinctly  heard 
to  say:  "Thank  God,  I  have  done  my  duty  !"  These  words 
he  repeatedly  pronounced,  and  they  were  the  last  words  that 
he  uttered.  He  expired  at  thirty  minutes  after  four,  three 
hours  and  a  quarter  after  he  had  received  his  wound.^ 

Within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after  Nelson  was  wounded 
about  fifty  of  the  Victory's  men  fell  by  the  enemy's  musketry. 
They,  however,  on  their  part  were  not  idle;  and  it  was  not  long 
before  there  were  only  two  Frenchmen  left  alive  in  the  mizzen- 
top  of  the  Redoubtable.  One  of  them  was  the  man  who  had 
given  the  fatal  wound, — he  did  not  live  to  boast  of  what  he 
had  done.  An  old  quartermaster  had  seen  him  fire,  and  easily 
recognized  him  because  he  wore  a  glazed  cocked  hat  and  a 

1  "  It  is  eighty-four  years  since  Nelson  died;  yet  still  his  name  is  the 
\  one  of  all  earthly  names  to  work  most  magically  in  the  thoughts  of  Eng- 
vlishmen.  His  example  as  a  strategist  is  of  no  use  now  ;  it  would  be  the 
idlest  waste  of  time  to  enter,  in  this  iron-enamored  age,  into  a  discourse 
upon  his  proceedings.  It  can  profit  us  nothing,  in  a  material  sense,  to 
know  that  his  great  theory  of  warfare  consisted  in  swiftness  of  resolution, 
in  dashing  at  the  enemy,  in  getting  alongside  of  him,  as  close  as  channels 
or  yard-arms  would  permit,  and  in  firing  until  he  struck  or  was  annihilated. 
There  are  no  longer  channels  ;  there  are  no  longer  yard-arms  ;  lines  ahead 
may  be  formed,  but  if  they  are  to  be  broken  no  hints  of  the  manoeuvres  to 
be  employed  are  likely  to  be  found  in  the  most  voluminous  and  minute 
accounts  of  the  Nelson  victories.  But  if  his  genius  as  an  admiral  of  the 
days  of  tacks  and  sheets  can  no  longer  be  serviceable  in  suggestion  to 
posterity  whose  hopes  are  lodged  in  steel  plates  of  twenty  inches  in  thick- 
ness, in  engines  of  ten  thousand  horse-power,  in  ordnance  big  enough  to 
berth  the  crew  of  a  brig  of  Nelson's  day,  his  example  as  an  English  sailor 
must,  whilst  there  remains  a  British  keel  afloat,  be  as  potent  in  all  seafaring 
aspirations  and  resolutions  as  ever  it  was  at  any  moment  in  his  devoted 
and  glorious  life."  — ^  W.  Clark  Russell's  Life  of  Nelson.     . 


222  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

white  frock.  This  quartermaster  and  two  midshipmen,  Mr. 
Collingwood  and  Mr.  Pollard,  were  the  only  persons  left  in  the 
Victory s  poop;  the  two  midshipmen  kept  firing  at  the  top,  and 
he  supplied  them  with  cartridges.  One  of  the  Frenchmen, 
attempting  to  make  his  escape  down  the  rigging,  was  shot  by 
Mr.  Pollard,  and  fell  on  the  poop.  But  the  old  quartermaster, 
as  he  cried  out,  *'  That 's  he,  that 's  he  !  "  and  pointed  at  the 
other,  who  was  coming  forward  to  fire  again,  received  a  shot 
in  his  mouth  and  fell  dead.  Both  the  midshipmen  then  fired 
at  the  same  time,  and  the  fellow  dropped  in  the  top.  When 
they  took  possession  of  the  prize  they  went  into  the  mizzen-top 
and  found  him  dead,  with  one  ball  through  his  head  and 
another  through  his  breast.-^ 

The  Redoubtable  struck  within  twenty  minutes  after  the  fatal 
shot  had  been  fired  from  her.  During  that  time  she  had  been 
twice  on  fire,  —  in  her  forechains  and  in  her  forecastle.  The 
French,  as  they  had  done  in  other  battles,  made  use  in  this  of 
fireballs  and  other  combustibles  :  implements  of  destruction 
which   other  nations,  from  a  sense  of  honor  and   humanity, 

1  There  is  some  reason  to  think  that  the  man  who  fired  the  fatal  shot  at 
Nelson  did  live  to  tell  the  story  and  that  his  name  was  Robert  Guillemard. 
He  claimed  that  he  was  stationed  in  the  rigging  of  the  Redoubtable^  and 
busied  himself  in  picking  off  the  men  on  the  Victory.  He  says  in  his 
Memoirs :  "  In  the  stern  of  the  Victory  stood  an  officer  covered  with 
decorations,  who  had  only  one  arm.  From  what  I  had  heard  of  Nelson, 
I  had  no  doubt  that  it  was  he.  As  I  had  received  no  command  to  come 
down  out  of  the  rigging,  and  found  myself  forgotten  in  the  top,  I  deemed 
it  my  duty  to  fire  into  the  stern  of  the  English  ship,  which  I  saw  unpro- 
tected and  quite  near.  I  might  have  aimed  at  particular  individuals,  but 
I  preferred  to  fire  into  the  separate  groups  which  surrounded  the  different 
officers.  All  at  once  I  perceived  a  great  commotion  on  board  the  Victory. 
The  people  crowded  around  the  officer  in  whom  I  believed  I  had  recog- 
nized Lord  Nelson.  He  had  fallen  to  the  deck,  and  they  carried  him  away 
at  once,  covered  with  a  mantle.  The  excitement  among  the  Victory^s  crew 
confirmed  me  in  the  belief  that  I  had  not  been  deceived,  and  it  was  indeed 
the  English  admiral.     A  moment  later  the  Victory  ceased  firing." 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR;  223 

have  laid  aside,  which  add  to  the  sufferings  of  the  wounded 
without  determining  the  issue  of  the  combat,  which  none  but 
the  cruel  would  employ,  and  which  never  can  be  successful 
against  the  brave.  Once  they  succeeded  in  setting  fire,  from 
the  Redoubtable^  to  some  ropes  and  canvas  on  the  Victory's 
booms.  The  cry  ran  through  the  ship  and  reached  the  cock- 
pit, but  even  this  dreadful  cry  produced  no  confusion :  the 
men  displayed  that  perfect  self-possession  in  danger  by  which 
English  seamen  are  characterized  ;  they  extinguished  the  flames 
on  board  their  own  ship,  and  then  hastened  to  extinguish  them 
in  the  enemy  by  throwing  buckets  of  water  from  the  gangway. 
When  the  Redoubtable  had  struck  it  was  not  practicable  to 
board  her  from  the  Victory ;  for  though  the  two  ships  touched, 
the  upper  works  of  both  fell  in  so  much  that  there  was  a  great 
space  between  their  gangways,  and  she  could  not  be  boarded 
from  the  lower  or  middle  decks  because  her  ports  were  down. 
Some  of  our  men  went  to  Lieutenant  Quilliam  and  offered  to 
swim  under  her  bows,  and  get  up  there,  but  it  was  thought 
unfit  to  hazard  brave  lives  in  this  manner. 

What  our  men  would  have  done  from  gallantry  some  of  the 
crew  of  the  Santissima  Trinidad  did  to  save  themselves.  Un- 
able to  stand  the  tremendous  fire  of  the  Victory,  whose  larboard 
guns  played  against  this  great  four-decker,  and  not  knowing 
how  else  to  escape  them,  nor  where  else  to  betake  themselves 
for  protection,  many  of  them  leapt  overboard  and  swam  to  the 
Victory,  and  were  actually  helped  up  her  sides  by  the  English 
during  the  action.  The  Spaniards  began  the  battle  with  less 
vivacity  than  their  unworthy  allies,  but  continued  it  with 
greater  firmness.  The  Argonaiita  and  Bahama  were  defended 
till  they  had  each  lost  about  400  men  ;  the  San  /uan  Nepomuceno 
lost  350.  Often  as  the  superiority  of  British  courage  has  been 
proved  against  France  upon  the  seas,  it  was  never  more  con- 
spicuous than  in  this  decisive  conflict.  Five  of  our  ships  were 
engaged  muzzle  to  muzzle  with  five  of  the  French.     In  all  five 


224  SOUTHEY  S    LIFE    OF    NELSON. 

the  Frenchmen  lowered  their  lower-deck  ports  and  deserted 
their  guns,  while  our  men  continued  deliberately  to  load  and 
fire  till  they  had  made  the  victory  secure. 

Once,  amidst  his  sufferings.  Nelson  had  expressed  a  wish 
that  he  were  dead;  but  immediately  the  spirit  subdued  the 
pains  of  death,  and  he  wished  to  live  a  little  longer — doubtless 
that  he  might  hear  the  completion  of  the  victory  which  he  had 
seen  so  gloriously  begun.  That  consolation,  that  joy,  that 
triumph  was  afforded  him.  He  lived  to  know  that  the  victory 
was  decisive,  and  the  last  guns  which  were  fired  at  the  flying 
enemy  were  heard  a  minute  or  two  before  he  expired.  The 
ships  which  were  thus  flying  were  four  of  the  enemy's  van,  all 
French,  under  Rear-admiral  Dumanoir.  They  had  borne  no 
part  in  the  action  ;  and  now,  when  they  were  seeking  safety  in 
flight,  they  fired  not  only  into  the  Victory  and  Royal  Sovereign 
as  they  passed,  but  poured  their  broadsides  into  the  Spanish 
captured  ships,  and  they  were  seen  to  back  their  topsails  for 
the  purpose  of  firing  with  more  precision. 

The  indignation  of  the  Spaniards  at  this  detestable  cruelty 
from  their  allies,  for  whom  they  had  fought  so  bravely  and  so 
profusely  bled,  may  well  be  conceived.  It  was  such  that 
when,  two  days  after  the  action,  seven  of  the  ships  which  had 
escaped  into  Cadiz  came  out,  in  hopes  of  retaking  some  of  the 
disabled  prizes,  the  prisoners  in  the  Argonauta  in  a  body  offered 
their  services  to  the  British  prize-master  to  man  the  guns 
against  any  of  the  French  ships ;  saying,  that  if  a  Spanish 
ship  came  alongside  they  w^ould  quietly  go  below,  but  they 
requested  that  they  might  be  allowed  to  fight  the  French  in 
resentment  for  the  murderous  usage  which  they  had  suffered 
at  their  hands.  Such  was  their  earnestness,  and  such  the 
implicit  confidence  which  could  be  placed  in  Spanish  honor, 
that  the  offer  was  accepted,  and  they  were  actually  stationed 
at  the  lower-deck  guns.  Dumanoir  and  his  squadron  were  not 
more  fortunate  than  the  fleet  from  whose  destruction  they  fled  ; 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  22  5 

they  fell  in  with  Sir  Richard  Strachan,  who  was  cruising  for 
the  Rochefort  squadron,  and  were  all  taken. 

In  the  better  days  of  France,  if  such  a  crime  could  then 
have  been  committed,  it  would  have  received  an  exemplary 
punishment  from  the  French  government ;  under  Bonaparte  it 
was  sure  of  impunity,  and  perhaps  might  be  thought  deserving 
of  reward.  But  if  the  Spanish  Court  had  been  independent,  it 
would  have  become  us  to  have  delivered  Dumanoir  and  his 
captains  up  to  Spain,  that  they  might  have  been  brought  to 
trial,  and  hanged  in  sight  of  the  remains  of  the  Spanish  fleet. 

The  total  British  loss  in  the  battle  of  Trafalgar  amounted  to 
1587.  Twenty  of  the  enemy  struck;  unhappily,  the  fleet  did 
not  anchor,  as  Nelson,  almost  with  his  dying  breath,  had 
enjoined.  A  gale  came  on  from  the  southwest :  some  of  the 
prizes  went  down,  some  went  on  shore  ;  one  effected  its  escape 
into  Cadiz  ;  others  were  destroyed  ;  four  only  were  saved,  and 
those  by  the  greatest  exertions.  The  wounded  Spaniards  were 
sent  ashore,  an  assurance  being  given  that  they  should  not 
serve  till  regularly  exchanged ;  and  the  Spaniards,  with  a 
generous  feeling,  which  would  not  perhaps  have  been  found  in 
any  other  people,  •  offered  the  use  of  their  hospitals  for  our 
wounded,  pledging  the  honor  of  Spain  that  they  should  be 
carefully  attended  there.  When  the  storm,  after  the  action, 
drove  some  of  the  prizes  upon  the  coast,  they  declared  that  the 
English,  who  were  thus  thrown  into  their  hands,  should  not  be 
considered  as  prisoners  of  war ;  and  the  Spanish  soldiers  gave 
up  their  own  beds  to  their  shipwrecked  enemies.  The  Spanish 
vice-admiral,  Alva,  died  of  his  wounds.  Villeneuve  was  sent 
to  England,  and  permitted  to  return  to  France.  The  French 
government  say  that  he  destroyed  himself  on  the  way  to  Paris, 
dreading  the  consequences  of  a  court-martial ;  but  there  is 
every  reason  to  believe  that  the  tyrant,  who  never  acknowledged 
the  loss  of  the  battle  of  Trafalgar,  added  Villeneuve  to  the 
numerous  victims  of  his  murderous  policy. 


226  southey's  life  of  nelson. 

It  is  almost  superfluous  to  add  that  all  the  honors  which  a 
grateful  country  could  bestow  were  heaped  upon  the  memory 
of  Nelson.  His  brother  was  made  an  earl,  with  a  grant  of 
^6000  a  year;  ;^i  0,000  were  voted  to  each  of  his  sisters,  and 
^100,000  for  the  purchase  of  an  estate.-^  A  public  funeral  was 
decreed,  and  a  public  monument.  Statues  and  monuments 
also  were  voted  by  most  of  our  principal  cities.  The  leaden 
coffin  in  which  he  was  brought  home  was  cut  in  pieces,  which 
were  distributed  as  relics  of  St.  Nelson  —  so  the  gunner  of  the 
Victory  called  them ;  and  when  at  his  interment  his  flag  was 
about  to  be  lowered  into  the  grave,  the  sailors  who  assisted  at 
the  ceremony  with  one  accord  rent  it  in  pieces,  that  each  might 
preserve  a  fragment  while  he  lived. 

The  death  of  Nelson  was  felt  in  England  as  something  more 
than  a  public  calamity;  men  started  at  the  intelligence  and 
turned  pale,  as  if  they  had  heard  of  the  loss  of  a  dear  friend. 
An  object  of  our  admiration  and  affection,  of  our  pride  and  of 
our  hopes,  was  suddenly  taken  from  us  ;  and  it  seemed  as  if  we 
had  never  till  then  known  how  deeply  we  loved  and  reverenced 
him.  What  the  country  has  lost  in  its  great  naval  hero  —  the 
greatest  of  our  own  and  of  all  former  times  —  was  scarcely 
taken  into  the  account  of  grief.  So  perfectly  indeed  had  he 
performed  his  part,  that  the  maritime  war  after  the  battle  of 
Trafalgar  was  considered  at  an  end ;  the  fleets  of  the  enemy 
were  not  merely  defeated,  but  destroyed ;  new  navies  must  be 
built,  and  a  new  race  of  seamen  reared  for  them,  before  the 
possibility  of  their  invading  our  shores  could  again  be  contem- 
plated.    It  was  not,  therefore,  from  any  selfish  reflection  upon 

^  "  The  total  sums  granted  were  ;^ 2,000  per  annum  to  his  widow  for  her 
life ;  ;^5,ooo  per  annum  to  the  person  who  might  succeed  to  the  earldom  of 
Nelson;  ;^99,ooo  for  the  purchase  of  an  estate  ;  and  ;^  15,000  to  each  of 
his  sisters." — Sir  N.  H.  Nicolas.  No  attention  was  paid  to  Nelson's 
last  bequest,  in  which  he  left  Lady  Hamilton  and  his  daughter  as  a  legacy 
to  the  nation. 


BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR.  22/ 

the  magnitude   of   our  loss  that  we  mourned  for  him;    the 
general  sorrow  was  of  a  higher  character. 

The  people  of  England  grieved  that  funeral  ceremonies  and 
public  monuments  and  posthumous  rewards  were  all  which 
they  could  now  bestow  upon  him  whom  the  King,  the  legisla- 
ture, and  the  nation  would  have  alike  delighted  to  honor ; 
whom  every  tongue  would  have  blessed ;  whose  presence  in 
every  village  through  which  he  might  have  passed  would  have 
wakened  the  church  bells,  have  given  schoolboys  a  holiday, 
have  drawn  children  from  their  sports  to  gaze  upon  him,  and 
"old  men  from  the  chimney  corner"  to  look  upon  Nelson  ere 
they  died.  The  victory  of  Trafalgar  was  celebrated,  indeed, 
with  the  usual  forms  of  rejoicing,  but  they  were  without  joy ; 
for  such  already  was  the  glory  of  the  British  navy  through 
Nelson's  surpassing  genius,  that  it  scarcely  seemed  to  receive 
any  addition  from  the  most  signal  victory  that  ever  was 
achieved  upon  the  seas  ;  and  the  destruction  of  this  mighty 
fleet,  by  which  all  the  maritime  schemes  of  France  were  totally 
frustrated,  hardly  appeared  to  add  to  our  security  or  strength, 
for  while  Nelson  was  living  to  watch  the  combined  squadrons 
of  the  enemy  we  felt  ourselves  as  secure  as  now,  when  they 
were  no  longer  in  existence. 

"  Nelson's  funeral  was  one  of  great  magnificence.  The  Scots  Greys  led 
the  procession,  other  regiments  followed,  their  bands  playing  solemn  music, 
and  the  military  array  was  closed  by  eleven  pieces  of  cannon  and  some 
companies  of  Grenadiers.  Then  came  lines  of  carriages  of  commoners  and 
of  peers ;  pensioners  of  Greenwich  Hospital ;  seamen  and  marines  of  the 
Victory  bearing  the  admiral's  flag,  whose  folds  were  sieve-like  with  the 
balls  which  had  passed  through  it ;  heralds  in  gauntlet  and  spur,  in  helm 
and  crest,  and  target  and  sword ;  naval  lieutenants  and  admirals  bearing 
the  canopy  and  supporting  the  pall,  with  the  coffin  on  a  car  formed  of  four 
columns  resembling  palm-trees,  and  having  on  its  front  and  back  a  carved 
representation  of  the  head  and  stern  of  the  Victory.  The  expense  of  this 
public  funeral  amounted  to  ;£'i4,ooo."  —  W.  Clark  Russell's  Life  of 
Nelson. 


228  SOUTHEY  S    I^IFE    OF    NELSON. 

There  was  reason  to  suppose,  from  the  appearances  upon 
opening  the  body,  that  in  the  course  of  nature  he  might  have 
attained,  like  his  father,  to  a  good  old  age.  Yet  he  cannot  be 
said  to  have  fallen  prematurely  whose  work  was  done,  nor 
ought  he  to  be  lamented  who  died  so  full  of  honors  and  at  the 
height  of  human  fame.  The  most  triumphant  death  is  that  of 
the  martyr ;  the  most  awful  that  of  the  martyred  patriot ;  the 
most  splendid  that  of  the  hero  in  the  hour  of  victory;  and  if 
the  chariot  and  the  horses  of  fire  had  been  vouchsafed  for 
Nelson's  translation,  he  could  scarcely  have  departed  in  a 
brighter  blaze  of  glory.  He  has  left  us,  not  indeed  his  mantle 
of  inspiration,  but  a  name  and  an  example  which  are  at  this 
hour  inspiring  thousands  of  the  youth  of  England,  —  a  name 
which  is  our  pride,  and  an  example  which  will  continue  to  be 
our  shield  and  our  strength.  Thus  it  is  that  the  spirits  of  ^he 
great  and  the  wise  continue  to  live  and  to  act  after  them, 
verifying  in  this  sense  the  language  of  the  old  mythologist :  ^ 

Toi  fjLcv  daifjioves  ela-l,  Al6s  fieydXov  dia  ^ov\as 
'Ecr^Xot,  eiTLxO^vi'Oi'i  0i5\aAces  OvtjtQv  dvBpdoirtav. 

1  Old  mythologist.  —  A  quotation  from  Hesiod's  "  Works  and  Days  ": 

"  Aerial  spirits  by  great  Jove  designed 
To  be  on  earth  the  guardians  of  mankind ; 
Invisible  to  mortal  eyes  they  go, 
And  mark  our  actions,  good  or  bad,  below." 

Cooke's  Translation  (Bohn's  edition). 


ADDITIONAL    NOTES.i 


o^iKo 


Nelson  was  a  little,  spare,  active  man,  brisk-tempered  and  generous. 
His  secretary,  who  knew  him  best,  says  he  was  noted  for  ''  penetration, 
quick  judgment,  clear  wisdom,  great  and  correct  decision; "  all  of  which  is 
abundantly  confirmed  by  this  "  Life."  In  company,  he  was  cheerful  and 
pleasant,  without  appearing  to  have  any  weight  on  his  mind.  At  sea,  he 
rose  at  four  or  five  ;  breakfasted  never  later  than  seven,  a  midshipman 
being  always  of  the  party.  "  He  entered  into  their  boyish  jokes,  and  could 
be  merry  with  the  youngest."  The  business  of  the  fleet  was  dispatched 
before  eight,  so  that  he  had  the  whole  day  before  him  for  correspondence, 
etc.  He  walked  the  deck  several  hours  for  exercise.  At  dinner  he  had 
every  ofiicer  in  turn.  He  ate  and  drank  sparingly,  not  using  salt  (says  Dr. 
Beatty),  as  he  believed  it  to  be  the  "  sole  cause  of  scurvy."  He  retired  at 
.'i^p.M.  His  hatred  to  the  French  of  that  day,  which  breaks  out  now  and 
then  in  so  strong  and  amusing  a  manner,  was  justified  by  the  conduct  of 
the  ferocious  revolutionary  banditti  who  swarmed  everywhere  in  defiance 
of  their  neighbors'  rights  ;  and  by  the  policy  of  the  Imperial  Robber,  whom 
the  Duke  of  Wellington  (in  the  "  Croker  Papers  ")  pronounced  to  be  the 
"  Jonathan  Wild  of  Europe,"  and  whose  great  object  was  the  conquest  or 
destruction  of  England.  "  This,"  said  Sheridan,  "  is  his  last  prayer  at  night, 
to  whatever  deity  he  may  address  it,  whether  to  Jupiter  or  Mahomet,  to  the 
goddess  of  Battles  or  the  goddess  of  Reason." 

Lady  Hamilton. — The  habits  of  this  clever  and  beautiful  woman  were 
so  extravagant,  that  she  was  obliged  to  sell  Merton  House,  which  Nelson 
had  left  her,  to  pay  her  debts,  after  selling  the  Trafalgar  coat  and  other 
relics  to  Mrs.  Smith  of  Twickenham,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Alderman  Smith,  her 
chief  creditor.  From  Mrs.  Smith  the  coat  was  bought  by  the  Prince 
Consort,  and  presented  to  Greenwich  Hospital. 

Lady  Hamilton,  after  going  through  the  King's  Bench,  went  to  Calais, 
and  died  there  in  great  distress,  of  dropsy,  Jan.  15,  181 5.  She  was  buried 
in  a  cemetery  in  Rue  Fran9aise,  now  a  timber  yard. 

1  Compiled  from  Southey's  "  Life  of  Nelson,"  published  in  "  Bohn's  Illustrated  Library," 


230  ADDITIONAL    NOTES. 

Horatia  Nelson  Thompson,  afterwards  Horatia  Nelson,  was  born  about 
the  29th-3ist  of  January,  1801,  the  daughter  of  Nelson  and  Lady  Hamilton, 
and  baptized  1803.  She  remained  with  Lady  Hamilton  till  her  death,  181 5 ; 
then  went  to  live  with  her  relations.  In  1828  she  married  the  Reverend  P. 
Ward,  afterwards  Vicar  of  Tenterden,  where  she  died,  the  mother  of  eight 
children. 

Portraits  of  Nelson.  —  By  Rigaud,  1781,  done  for  Captain  Locker.  By 
L.  F.  Abbott,  1798,  unfinished ;  and  his  finished  portrait  of  the  same  date, 
bequeathed  by  Sir  W.  Davison ;  both  at  Greenwich  Hospital.  Another, 
by  Abbott,  in  the  National  Portrait  Gallery,  Bethnal  Green.  One  of 
Abbott's  portraits  is  engraved  for  Sir  H.  Nicolas's  "  Dispatches  and  Letters," 
and  has  an  autograph  by  Lady  Nelson,  stating  that  the  likeness  is  great, 
and  that  "  our  good  father  is  delighted  with  the  likeness."  By  H.  Fiiger, 
1800  ;  a  head,  done  at  Vienna.  By  Guzzardi,  1799,  at  the  Admiralty  ;  done 
for  Sir  W.  Hamilton,  and  engraved  in  Pettigrew's  "  Memoirs."  It  is  a 
picturesque  work,  with  blue  eyes,  a  pale  wasted  face  (from  fever),  and  a  cocked 
hat,  ornamented  with  the  Grand  Signior's  diamond  aigrette.  By  Hoppner, 
engraved  for  the  edition  of  Southey's  "  Life,"  in  Bohn's  Standard  Library. 
By  Sir  W.  Beechey,  at  Draper's  Hall ;  and  another  at  Norwich  City  Hall. 
By  A.  W.  Devis,  1805,  just  before  Trafalgar  ;  done  for  Admiral  Sir  Bladen 
Capel,  and  engraved  in  Pettigrew's  "  Memoirs."  It  is  the  last  one  painted 
from  life. 

Portrait  of  Lady  Hamilton,  by  Romney,  at  the  National  Portrait  Gallery, 
Bethnal  Green.  Of  Sir  William  Hamilton,  two  portraits,  by  Reynolds  and 
Allan;  also,  in  the  National  Portrait  Gallery.  Romney,  an  enthusiastic 
admirer  of  Lady  Hamilton,  painted  above  twenty  portraits  of  her  in  differ- 
ent characters.     One,  a  Bacchante,  is  at  the  National  Gallery. 

Busts  of  Nelson.  —  A  Bust  at  Guildhall,  in  marble,  by  the  Hon.  Mrs. 
Damer,  the  only  one  for  which  he  sat,  in  the  coat  worn  by  him  at  the  Nile, 
which  he  then  gave  her,  and  which  is  now  at  Greenwich  Hospital.  She 
gave  a  bronze  copy  of  this  bust  to  the  Duke  of  Clarence,  who  placed  it  on 
a  stump  of  the  Victorfs  foremast,  which  is  now  at  Windsor,  between  busts 
of  Marlborough  and  Wellington. 

A  large  bronze  bust  in  the  upper  quadrangle  at  Greenwich,  is  by  Sir  F. 
Chantrey,  1834,  the  gift  of  Lady  Chantrey. 

Monuments.  —  In  St.  Paul's,  by  Flaxman  ;  and  another  at  Guildhall, 
with  an  inscription  by  Sheridan.  At  Norwich,  a  statue  (near  the  Cathe- 
dral), apparently  a  good  likeness.  At  Bristol ;  at  Birmingham,  in  the  Bull 
Ring;  Liverpool,  on  the  Exchange  ;  Edinburgh,  on  Carlton  Hill ;  Glasgow, 
a  column  in  the  Park ;  and  Dublin,  a  column  in  Sackville  Street.  Column 
at  Trafalgar  Square,  London,  with  a  statue  by  Baily,  R.A.,  bas-reliefs  of 


ADDITIONAL    NOTES.  23  I 

his  four  chief  actions,  and  Lions  by  Landseer.  A  pillar,  or  sea-mark,  near 
the  Nelson  Fort,  in  Portsmouth  ;  and  a  pillar  at  Yarmouth. 

His  brother  gave  out  that  he  hoped  to  build  a  monument  to  Nelson  at 
Burnham  Thorpe,  but  he  never  had  the  heart  to  do  it,  though  he  lived 
down  to  1835.  Nelson  always  remembered  the  poor  there,  sending  New 
Year's  gifts  of  blankets  ;  and  he  left  them  a  sum  in  his  will. 

Nelson  Relics.  —  At  Greenwich  Hospital,  in  the  Nelson  Room  of  the 
Painted  Hall,  and  in  the  Naval  Museum  there.  Among  the  Relics  kept 
there  with  as  much  pious  regard  as  if  he  were  a  saint,  are  the  Nile  coat, 
given  by  the  Duke  of  Clarence  ;  the  Trafalgar  coat  and  waistcoat,  given  by 
the  Prince  Consort  ;  his  Nile  medal;  his  dress  sword  ;  the  Grand  Signior's 
gun,  sabre,  and  canteen,  all  richly  ornamented ;  pieces  of  embroidery  from 
his  sleeping  cot.  Also,  a  small  enamel  portrait,  his  watch  and  seal,  snuff- 
box made  of  a  bit  of  the  Orient,  stock  and  pig-tail  as  then  worn,  and  the 
drinking-glasses  used  by  him  and  Lady  Hamilton,  all  bequeathed  by  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Ward. 

The  Victory,  Nelson^s  ship,  lies  in  Portsmouth  harbor,  an  almost 
unique  specimen  of  a  wooden  sailing-ship  of  her  day,  but  of  course  much 
altered ;  indeed,  almost  rebuilt  from  stem  to  stern  to  keep  her  afloat.  The 
spots  where  Nelson  fell  and  died,  on  deck  and  below,  are  marked.  A  bit 
of  the  deck,  taken  from  the  place  where  he  fell,  is  at  the  United  Service 
Institution  ;  and  at  the  Junior  United  Service  Club  are  models  of  all  the 
ships  at  Trafalgar,  on  a  table  made  from  the  Victory^s  timbers.  She  was 
visited  by  the  Queen  on  Trafalgar  Day,  1844.  "Everybody"  (says  De 
Quincey)  "must  remember  the  immortal  scene  on  board  the  Victory,  at  4 
P.M.  of  Oct.  21,  1805;  and  the  farewell  'Kiss  me.  Hardy'  of  the  mighty 
admiral." 

She  carried  Earl  St.  Vincent's  flag  in  the  battle  of  1798,  and  is  one  of  a 
succession  of  ships  so  named,  and  used  as  flag-ships.  Her  predecessor  of 
the  name  was  lost  in  1744  near  the  Channel  Islands,  with  1200  of  her  crew. 

The  Dreadnought,  one  of  the  Trafalgar  ships,  was  used  as  a  hospital  ship 
at  Greenwich  till  broken  up,  1857 ;  but  her  name  is  perpetuated  in  the 
Infirmary  for  Seamen  ashore. 

The  San  Joseph  was  for  many  years  in  Plymouth  harbor. 

Among  the  latest  survivors  of  the  Trafalgar  men  were  Admirals  Sir  E. 
Codrington,  Sir  T.  B.  Capel,  and  Sir  C.  Bullen  (died  1853).  Admiral  Sir 
C.  Sartorius  (born  1790,  died  1881),  was  a  midshipman  in  the  Tonnant. 
Admiral  Sir  G.  A.  Westphal  (born  1786,  died  1874)  was  a  midshipman  in 
the  Victory,  where  he  was  wounded  in  the  head,  and  lay  next  to  his  great 
chief  in  the  cockpit.  He  was  younger  brother  to  Admiral  Sir  P.  Westphal 
(born  1782,  died  1880),  who  was  a  midshipman  at  Copenhagen,  1801. 


232  ADDITIONAL    NOTES. 

The  Earldom,  conferred  by  George  III.,  went  by  patent  to  Nelson's  elder 
brother,  William,  a  mean,  avaricious  man,  who  kept  the  important  codicil 
in  his  pocket  till  it  could  be  of  no  use  to  Lady  Hamilton.  He  owed  his 
title,  property,  social  standing,  everything,  to  his  generous  brother.  His 
line  ended  with  himself,  1835.  The  English  title  was  carried  on  by  his 
sister's  son,  Thomas  Bolton;  but  the  title  of  Duke  of  Bronte,  went,  in 
consequence  of  a  Chancery  suit,  to  his  niece  Charlotte,  Lady  Bridport, 
together  with  the  estate,  the  Grand  Signior's  plume,  and  the  sword  of  the 
King  of  Naples,  which  are  held  by  the  Bridport  family. 

Nelson's  wife.  Viscountess  Nelson,  died  1831. 


MEMOIR    OF    NELSON'S    SERVICES. 


WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF. 


October  i^th,  i^gg-     Port  Mahon. 

HORATIO  NELSON,  son  of  the  Reverend  Edmund 
Nelson,  Rector  of  Burnham  Thorpe,  in  the  county 
of  Norfolk,  and  Catherine  his  wife,  daughter  of  Doctor  Suck- 
ling, Prebendary  of  Westminster,  whose  grandmother  was  sister 
to  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  Earl  of  Orford. 

I  was  born  September  29th,  1758,  in  the  parsonage-house, 
was  sent  to  the  high-school  at  Norwich,  and  afterwards  removed 
to  North  Walsham ;  from  whence,  on  the  disturbance  with 
Spain  relative  to  the  Falkland  Islands,  I  went  to  sea  with  my 
uncle,  Captain  Maurice  Suckling,  in  Xho^  Raisonnable,  of  64  guns. 
But  the  business  with  Spain  being  accommodated,  I  was  sent 
in  a  West-India  ship  belonging  to  the  house  of  Hibbert,  Furrier, 
Horton-,  with  Mr.  John  Rathbone,  who  had  formerly  been  in 
the  Navy,  in  the  Dreadnought^  with  Captain  Suckling.  From 
this  voyage  I  returned  to  the  Triumph,  at  Chatham,  in  July, 
1772  ;  and,  if  I  did  not  improve  in  my  education,  I  returned  a 
practical  seaman,  with  a  horror  of  the  royal  Navy,  and  with  a 
saying  then  constant  with  the  seamen,  "Aft  the  most  honor; 
forward  the  better  man  ! ''  It  was  many  weeks  before  I  got  in 
the  least  reconciled  to  a  man-of-war,  so  deep  was  the  prejudice 
rooted ;  and  what  pains  were  taken  to  instil  this  erroneous 
principle  in  a  young  mind  !     However,  as  my  ambition  was  to 


234  MEMOIR    OF    NELSON  S    SERVICES. 

be  a  seaman,  it  was  always  held  out  as  a  reward,  that  if  I 
attended  well  to  my  navigation,  I  should  go  in  the  cutter  and 
ed  long-boat,  which  was  attached  to  the  commanding 
officer's  ship  at  Chatham.  Thus  by  degrees  I  became  a  good 
pilot,  for  vessels  of  that  description,  from  Chatham  to  the 
Tower  of  London,  down  the  Swin  and  the  North  Foreland ; 
and  confident  of  myself  amongst  rocks  and  sands,  which  has 
many  times  since  been  of  great  comfort  to  me.  In  this  way  I 
was  trained,  till  the  expedition  towards  the  North  Pole  was 
fitted  out;  when  although  no  boys  were  allowed  to  go  in  the 
ships  (as  of  no  use),  yet  nothing  could  prevent  my  using  every 
interest  to  go  with  Captain  Lutwidge,  in  the  Carcass ;  and  as  I 
fancied  I  was  to  fill  a  man's  place,  I  begged  I  might  be  his 
cockswain  :  which,  finding  my  ardent  desire  for  going  with 
him,  Captain  Lutwidge  complied  with,  and  has  continued  the 
strictest  friendship  to  this  moment.  Lord  Mulgrave,  whom  I 
then  first  knew,  maintained  his  kindest  friendship  and  regard 
to  the  last  moment  of  his  life.  When  the  boats  were  fitting  out 
to  quit  the  two  ships  blocked  up  in  the  ice,  I  exerted  myself  to 
have  the  command  of  a  four-oared  cutter  raised  upon,  which 
was  given  me,  with  twelve  men ;  and  I  prided  myself  in 
fancying  I  could  navigate  her  better  than  any  other  boat  in 
the  ship. 

On  our  arrival  in  England,  being  paid  ofiF,  October  15th,  \ 
found  that  a  squadron  was  fitting  out  for  the  East  Indies ;  and 
nothing  less  than  such  a  distant  voyage  could  in  the  least 
satisfy  my  desire  of  maritime  knowledge.  I  was  placed  in  the 
Seahorse^  of  20  guns,  with  Captain  Farmer,  and  watched  in  the 
fore-top  ;  from  whence  in  time  I  was  placed  on  the  quarter- 
deck :  having,  in  the  time  I  was  in  this  ship,  visited  almost 
every  part  of  the  East  Indies,  from  Bengal  to  Bussorah.  Ill 
health  induced  Sir  Edward  Hughes,  who  had  always  shown  me 
the  greatest  kindness,  to  send  me  to  England  in  the  DoIphi7i, 
of  20  guns,  with  Captain  James  Pigot,  whose  kindness  at  that 


MEMOIR    OF    NELSON  S    SERVICES.  235 

time  saved  my  life.  This  ship  was  paid  off  at  Woolwich,  on 
the  24th  September,  1776.  On  the  26th,  I  received  an  o^^: 
from  Sir  James  Douglass,  who  commanded  at  Portsmoii^^^^ 
act  as  lieutenant  of  the  Worcester,  64,  Captain  Mark  Robinson, 
who  was  ordered  to  Gibraltar  with  a  convoy.  In  this  ship  I 
was  at  sea  with  convoys  till  April  2d,  1777,  and  in  very  bad 
weather;  but  although  my  age  might  have  been  a  sufficient 
cause  for  not  entrusting  me  with  the  charge  of  a  watch,  yet 
Captain  Robinson  used  to  say,  **  he  felt  as  easy  when  I  was 
upon  deck,  as  any  officer  in  the  ship." 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1777,  I  passed  my  examination  as  a 
lieutenant,  and  received  my  commission  the  next  day,  as 
second  lieutenant  of  the  Lowestoffe  frigate,  of  32  guns.  Captain 
(afterwards  Lieutenant-governor  of  Greenwich  Hospital)  Wilham 
Locker.  In  this  ship  I  went  to  Jamaica;  but  even  a  frigate 
was  not  sufficiently  active  for  my  mind,  and  I  got  into  a 
schooner,  tender  to  the  Lowestoffe,  In  this  vessel  I  made 
myself  a  complete  pilot  for  all  the  passages  through  the  Keys 
(islands)  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Hispaniola.  Whilst  in 
this  frigate,  an  event  happened  which  presaged  my  character ; 
and  as  it  conveys  no  dishonor  to  the  officer  alluded  to,  I  shall 
relate  it. 

Blowing  a  gale  of  wind,  and  very  heavy  sea,  the  frigate 
captured  an  American  letter-of-marque.  The  first  lieutenant 
was  ordered  to  board  her,  which  he  did  not  do,  owing  to  the 
very  high  sea.  On  his  return,  the  captain  said,  "  Have  I  no 
officer  in  the  ship  who  can  board  the  prize  ? ''  On  which  the 
master  ran  to  the  gangway,  to  get  into  the  boat :  when  I 
stopped  him,  saying,  **  It  is  my  turn  now ;  and  if  I  come  back 
it  is  yours."  This  little  incident  has  often  occurred  to  my 
mind ;  and  I  know  it  is  my  disposition,  that  difficulties  and 
dangers  do  but  increase  my  desire  of  attempting  them. 

Sir  Peter  Parker,  soon  after  his  arrival  at  Jamaica,  1778, 
took   me  into    his  own    flag-ship,   the  Bristol,   as    third    lieu- 


236  MEMOIR    OF    nelson's    SERVICES. 

tenant ;  from  which  I  rose  by  succession  to  be  the  first, 
^^hing  particular  happened  whilst  I  was  in  this  ship,  which 
^R  actively  employed  off  Cape  Frangois,  it  being  the  com- 
mencement of  the  French  war. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  1778,  I  was  appointed  commander 
of  the  Badger  brig ;  and  was  first  sent  to  protect  the  Mosquito 
shore,  and  the  Bay  of  Honduras,  from  the  depredations  of  the 
American  privateers.  Whilst  on  this  service,  I  gained  so  much 
on  the  affections  of  the  settlers,  that  they  unanimously  voted  me 
their  thanks,  and  expressed  their  regret  on  my  leaving  them ; 
•entrusting  me  to  describe  to  Sir  Peter  Parker  and  Sir  John 
Balling  their  situation,  should  a  war  with  Spain  break  out. 
Whilst  I  commanded  this  brig,  H.M.S.  Glasgow^  Captain 
Thomas  Lloyd,  came  into  Montego  Bay,  Jamaica,  where  the 
Badger  was  lying :  in  two  hours  afterwards  she  took  fire  by  a 
cask  of  rum  ;  and  Captain  Lloyd  will  tell  you,  that  it  was  owing 
to  my  exertions,  joined  to  his,  that  her  whole  crew  were  rescued 
from  the  flames. 

On  the  nth  of  June,  1779,  I  was  made  post  into  the 
Hinchinbrook :  when,  being  at  sea,  and  Count  d'Estaing 
arriving  at  Hispaniola  with  a  very  large  fleet  and  army  from 
Martinico,  an  attack  on  Jamaica  was  expected.  In  this  critical 
state,  I  was  by  both  admiral  and  general  intrusted  with  the 
command  of  the  batteries  at  Port  Royal ;  and  I  need  not  say, 
as  this  place  was  the  key  to  the  whole  naval  force,  the  town  of 
Kingston,  and  Spanish  Town,  the  defense  of  it  was  the  most 
important  post  in  the  whole  island. 

In  January,  1780,  an  expedition  being  resolved  on  against 
St.  Juan's,  I  was  chosen  to  direct  the  sea  part  of  it.  Major 
Poison,  who  commanded,  will  tell  you  of  my  exertions ;  how  I 
quitted  my  ship,  carried  troops  in  boats  an  hundred  miles  up 
a  river  which  none  but  Spaniards,  since  the  time  of  the  buc- 
caneers, had  ever  ascended.  It  will  then  be  told  how  I 
boarded,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression,  an  outpost  of  the 


MEMOIR    OF    NELSON  S    SERVICES.  23/ 

enemy,  situated  on  an  island  in  the  river ;  that  I  made 
batteries  and  afterwards  fought  them,  and  was  a  principal 
cause  of  our  success.  From  this  scene  I  was  appointed  to 
the  Janus^  44,  at  Jamaica,  and  went  to  Port  Royal  in  the 
Victor  Sloop. 

My  state  of  health  was  now  so  bad,  that  I  was  obliged  to  go 
to  England  in  the  Lion^  the  Honorable  William  Cornwallis, 
Captain  ;  whose  care  and  attention  again  saved  my  life.  In 
August,  1 781,  I  was  commissioned  for  the  Albemarle ;  and,  it 
would  almost  be  supposed  to  try  my  constitution,  was  kept  the 
whole  winter  in  the  North  Sea.  In  April,  1782,  I  sailed  with 
a  convoy  for  Newfoundland  and  Quebec,  under  the  orders  of 
Captain  Thomas  Pringle.  From  Quebec,  during  a  cruise  off 
Boston,  I  was  chased  by  three  French  ships  of  the  line,  and 
the  Iris  frigate ;  as  they  all  beat  me  in  sailing  very  much,  I 
had  no  chance  left,  but  running  them  amongst  the  shoals  of  St. 
George's  bank.  This  alarmed  the  line-of-battle  ships,  and 
they  quitted  the  pursuit ;  but  the  frigate  continued,  and  at 
sunset  was  little  more  than  gunshot  distant :  when,  the  line- 
of-battle  ships  being  out  of  sight,  I  ordered  the  main-topsail 
to  be  laid  to  the  mast  ;  on  this  the  frigate  tacked  and  stood  to 
rejoin  her  consorts. 

In  October  I  sailed  from  Quebec  with  a  convoy  to  New  York, 
where  I  joined  the  fleet  under  the  command  of  Lord  Hood  ; 
and  in  November  I  sailed  with  him  to  the  West  Indies,  where 
I  remained  till  the  peace,  when  I  came  to  England,  —  being 
directed  in  my  way  to  attend  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  Clarence,  on 
his  visit  to  the  Havannah,  and  was  paid  off  at  Portsmouth,  on 
July  3d,  1783.  In  the  autumn  I  went  to  France,  and  remained 
there  till  the  spring  of  the  year  1784  ;  when  I  was  appointed 
to  the  Boreas  frigate,  of  28  guns,  and  ordered  to  the  Leeward 
Islands  station. 

This  station  opened  a  new  scene  to  the  officers  of  the  British 
Navy.     The  Americans,  when  colonists,  possessed  almost  all 


238  MEMOIR    OF    nelson's    SERVICES. 

the  trade  from  America  to  our  West  India  Islands,  and  on  the 
return  of  peace  they  forgot,  on  this  occasion,  that  they  became 
foreigners,  and  of  course  had  no  right  to  trade  in  the  British 
colonies.  Our  governors  and  custom-house  officers  pretended 
that  by  the  Navigation  Act  they  had  a  right  to  trade  ;  and 
all  the  West  Indians  wished  what  was  so  much  for  their 
interest. 

Having  given  governors,  custom-house  officers,  and  Ameri- 
cans notice  of  what  I  would  do,  I  seized  many  of  their  vessels, 
which  brought  all  parties  upon  me  ;  and  I  was  persecuted  from 
one  island  to  another,  so  that  I  could  not  leave  my  ship.  But 
conscious  rectitude  bore  me  through  it ;  and  I  was  supported, 
when  the  business  came  to  be  understood,  from  home ;  and  I 
proved  (and  an  act  of  parliament  has  since  established  it)  that 
a  captain  of  a  man-of-war  is  in  duty  bound  to  support  all  the 
maritime  laws,  by  his  Admiralty  commission  alone,  without 
becoming  a  custom-house  officer. 

In  July,  1786,  I  was  left  with  the  command  till  June,  1787, 
when  I  sailed  for  England.  During  the  winter  H.R.H.  the 
Duke  of  Clarence  visited  the  Leeward  Islands  in  the  Pegasus 
frigate,  of  which  he  was  captain.  And  in  March  this  year  I 
married  Frances  Herbert  Nisbet,  widow  of  Dr.  Nisbet,  of  the 
island  of  Nevis  ;  by  whom  I  have  no  children. 

The  Boreas  being  paid  off  at  Sheerness,  on  November  the 
30th,  I  lived  at  Burnham  Thorpe,  county  of  Norfolk,  in  the 
parsonage-house.  In  1790,  when  the  affair  with  Spain,  relative 
to  Nootka  Sound,  had  nearly  involved  us  in  a  war,  I  made  use 
of  every  interest  to  get  a  ship,  ay^  even  a  boat,  to  serve  my 
country,  but  in  vain ;  there  was  a  prejudice  at  the  Admiralty 
evidently  against  me,  which  I  can  neither  guess  at,  nor  in  the 
least  account  for  .  .   .  ^ 

^  "  Some  words  evidently  occurred  here,  which  Dr.  Clarke  and  Mr. 
M' Arthur  thought  fit  to  suppress  (a  proceeding  which  they  adopted  on 
many  occasions),   and    as   the   original   MS.    has   not    been   found,    it    is 


MEMOIR    OF    NELSON  S    SERVICES.  239 

On  the  30th  of  January,  1793,  I  was  commissioned  in  the 
handsomest  way  for  the  Agamemnon^  64  guns,  and  was  put 
under  the  command  of  that  great  man  and  excellent  officer. 
Lord  Hood,  appointed  to  the  command  in  the  Mediterranean. 
The  unbounded  confidence  on  all  occasions  placed  in  me  by 
his  lordship,  will  show  his  opinions  of  my  abilities;  having 
served  in  the  command  of  the  seamen  landed  for  the  sieges  of 
Bastia  and  Calvi. 

His  lordship  in  October,  1794,  left  the  Mediterranean  to 
Admiral  Hotham,  who  also  honored  me  with  the  same  confi- 
dence. I  was  in  the  actions  of  the  13th  and  14th  of  March, 
1795,  and  13th  of  July  in  the  same  year.  For  the  share  I  had 
in  them,  I  refer  to  the  Admiralty  letters.  I  was  then  appointed 
by  Admiral  Hotham  to  cooperate  with  the  Austrian  General 
De  Vins,  which  I  did  all  the  time  Admiral  Hotham  retained 
the  command,  till  November ;  when  he  was  superseded  by  Sir 
John  Jervis,  now  Earl  Vincent. 

In  April,  1796,  the  commander-in-chief  so  much  approved 
my  conduct,  that  he  directed  me  to  wear  a  distinguishing 
pendant.  In  June  I  was  removed  from  the  Agamemnon  to  the 
Captain^  and  on  the  nth  of  August  had  appointed  a  captain 
under  me.  Between  April  and  October,  1796,  I  was  employed 
in  the  blockade  of  Leghorn,  taking  Porto  Ferrajo,  the  island  of 
Caprea,  and  finally  in  the  evacuation  of  Bastia ;  when,  having 
seen  the  troops  in  safety  to  Porto  Ferrajo,  I  joined  the  admiral 
in  St.  Fiorenzo  Bay,  and  proceeded  with  him  to  Gibraltar ; 
whence  in  December  I  was  sent  in  La  Minerve  frigate,  Captain 
George  Cockburn,  to  Porto  Ferrajo,  to  bring  down  our  naval 
stores,  &c.  On  the  passage  we  captured  a  Spanish  frigate,  La 
Sabina,  of  40  guns,  28  eighteen-pounders  on  her  main  deck,  as 
will  appear  by  my  letter. 

impossible  to  supply  the  omission.  Nelson's  letters  at  this  period  leave 
no  doubt  that  a  prejudice  existed  against  him  at  the  Admiralty,  if  not  in 
higher  quarters."  —  Nelson's  Dispatches, 


240  MEMOIR    OF    NELSON  S    SERVICES. 

For  an  account  of  what  passed  from  our  sailing  from  Porto 
Ferrajo  on  the  29th  of  January,  1797,  to  the  finish  of  the 
action  on  the  14th  of  February,  I  refer  to  the  account 
published  by  Colonel  Drinkwater.  The  King,  for  my  con- 
duct, gave  me  a  gold  medal,  and  the  city  of  London  a 
gold  box. 

In  April,  1797,  I  hoisted  my  flag  as  Rear-Admiral  of  the 
Blue,  and  was  sent  to  bring  down  the  garrison  of  Porto 
Ferrajo ;  which  service  performed,  I  shifted  my  flag  from  the 
Captain  to  the  Theseiis  on  May  the  27th,  and  was  employed  in 
the  command  of  the  inner  squadron  at  the  blockade  of  Cadiz. 
It  was  during  this  period  that  perhaps  my  personal  courage 
was  more  conspicuous  than  at  any  other  period  of  my  life.  In 
an  attack  of  the  Spanish  gunboats  I  was  boarded,  in  my  barge, 
with  its  common  crew  of  ten  men,  cockswain.  Captain  Fre- 
mantle,  and  myself,  by  the  commander  of  the  gunboats.  The 
Spanish  barge  rowed  twenty-six  oars,  besides  officers  —  thirty 
men  in  the  whole  :  this  was  a  service  hand-to-hand  with  swords, 
in  which  my  cockswain,  John  Sykes  (now  no  more),  saved 
twice  my  life.  Eighteen  of  the  Spaniards  being  killed,  and 
several  wounded,  we  succeeded  in  taking  their  commander. 
On  the  15th  of  July,  1797,  I  sailed  for  Teneriffe ;  for  the 
event,  I  refer  to  my  letter  on  that  expedition.  Having  then 
lost  my  right  arm,  for  this  loss  and  my  former  services  his 
Majesty  was  pleased  to  settle  on  me  a  pension  of  ^1000 
a-year ;  by  some  unlucky  mismanagement  of  my  arm  I  was 
obliged  to  go  to  England;  and  it  was  the  13th  of  December, 
1797,  before  the  surgeons  pronounced  me  fit  for  service.  On 
the  19th  of  December  the  Vanguard  was  commissioned  for  my 
flag-ship. 

On  the  I  St  of  April,  1798,  I  sailed  with  a  convoy  from 
Spithead ;  at  the  back  of  the  Wight,  the  wind  coming  to  the 
westward,  I  was  forced  to  return  to  St.  Helen's,  and  finally 
sailed  on  the  9th  of  April,  carrying  a  convoy  to  Oporto  and 


MEMOIR    OF    NELSON  S    SERVICES.  24I 

Lisbon.  I  joined  Earl  St.  Vincent  off  Cadiz,  on  April  29th; 
on  the  30th  I  was  ordered  into  the  Mediterranean.  I  refer  to 
the  printed  narrative  of  my  proceedings  to  the  close  of  the 
Battle  of  the  Nile. 

On  the  2 2d  of  September,  1798,  I  arrived  at  Naples,  and 
was  received  as  a  deliverer  by  the  King,  Queen,  and  the  whole 
Kingdom.  October  12th,  the  blockade  of  Malta  took  place, 
which  has  continued  without  intermission  to  this  day.  On  the 
2 1  St  of  December,  1798,  his  Sicilian  Majesty  and  family 
embarked  in  the  Vanguard^  and  were  carried  to  Palermo  in 
Sicily.  In  March,  1799,  I  arranged  a  plan  for  taking  the 
islands  in  the  Bay  of  Naples,  and  for  supporting  the  Royalists, 
who  were  making  head  in  the  kingdom.  This  plan  succeeded 
in  every  part.  In  May  I  shifted  my  flag,  being  promoted  to 
be  Rear-Admiral  of  the  Red,  to  the  Foudroyant^  and  was 
obliged  to  be  on  my  guard  against  the  French  fleets.  In  June 
and  July,  1799,  ^  went  to  Naples,  and,  as  his  Sicilian  Majesty 
is  pleased  to  say,  reconquered  his  kingdom,  and  placed  him 
on  his  throne.  On  the  9th  of  August  I  brought  his  Sicilian 
Majesty  back  to  Palermo,  having  been  upwards  of  four  weeks 
on  board  the  Foiidroyant, 

On  the  13th,  his  Sicilian  Majesty  presented  me  with  a  sword 
magnificently  enriched  with  diamonds,  the  title  of  Duke  of 
Bronte,  and  annexed  to  it  the  fief  of  Bronte,  supposed  to  be 
worth  ^3000  per  annum.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Russian 
squadron  at  Naples,  I  directed  Commodore  Trowbridge  to  go 
with  the  squadron,  and  blockade  closely  Civita  Vecchia,  and  to 
offer  the  French  most  favorable  conditions,  if  they  would 
evacuate  Rome  and  Civita  Vecchia ;  which  terms  the  French 
general  Grenier  complied  with,  and  they  were  signed  on 
board  the  Culloden ;  when  a  prophecy  made  to  me  on  my 
arrival  at  Naples  was  fulfilled,  viz.,  That  I  should, take  Rome 
with  my  ships. 


242  MEMOIR    OF    NELSON  S    SERVICES. 

Thus  may  be  exemplified  by  my  life,  that  perseverance  in 
any  profession  will  most  probably  meet  its  reward.  Without 
having  any  inheritance,  or  having  been  fortunate  in  prize- 
money,  I  have  received  all  the  honors  of  my  profession,  been 
created  a  peer  of  Great  Britain,  &c.  And  I  may  say  to  the 
reader, 

"go  thou  and  do  likewise.*' 

NELSON. 


"^. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
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7 


CLASSICS    FOR    CHILDREN. 


Choice  Literature;  Judicious  Notes;    Large  Type  ; 
Firm  Dinding :    Low  Prices. 


For  a  full  descriptwn  of  these  bonks,  sec  our  Common  School  Catalogue. 


Aesop's  Fables. 

Ardersen's     Fairy    Tales.       Fust 

Series. 
Afidersen's  Fairy  Tales.     Second 

Series. 
1  ■'•iy-anV.  Pilgrim's  Proijress. 


World. 
*:foe's  Re 


'■■ !  ■A;^  1 .  viiig's      WashingtOft     '&\ 

iPs  Cum  try. 
F/ancillon's  Gods  and  Heroes, 
i- r-^nklin  :   His  Life  by  Himself. 
Goldsmith's  Vicar  of  Waket.eld. 
v^lrimm's  Fairy  Tales,  Part  I. 
Grimn  's  Fairy  Tales,  Part     i 
Grote    and    Segur's    Two     G.oaL   | 

Reticats. 
Hale's   'r-'bian  Nights. 
Hudsra  and  Lr.mb's  Merchant  of   i 

Venice. 
Hughey'  Tom  Brown  at  Ru.qov 
Irvine's  Albambra. 


Trving's   vSketch-Pook.      (Six 

lections.) 
Johnsorx's  Rasselas. 
Kingsley's  Greek  Heroes. 
KingsJ  y's  Water  Babies. 
Lamb's  Adventures  of  Ulysses. 
Lamb's  Tales  from  Shak<  ' 
Marcus  Anrelius. 
Martineairs     T'casant    and    t 

I'rinc  i. 
Montgomery's  Heroic  Ballads, 
^rch's  Lives. 
)'s    King   of   the   Golden 

^^^  'Jons  from  Raskin. 
Sco.^'s  Guy  Mann e ring. 


the  Lake. 

le  Last  Minsir,. 


Qiuntin  i>nrw:ird. 

Rcl)  l^  .. 

Tal,  .  .  ::-;:.  -;uh.r, 

Ta]isn\in. 
Swift's  Gulliver's  Travels. 
\A'i]liams  and  Fo-er's   Select". 

fc  r  Memorizing. 
Wy.s^'  Swiss  Famii-    Robinson. 


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